Cardinals women’s basketball has been flying high this season, setting new standards for their play and wiping the floor with their competition. The team started off the season with eleven straight wins, breaking the record for consecutive victories set by the 2000-01 team. The squad now holds a 13-3 record (2-3 NESCAC) for the season and is second in the NESCAC for scoring defense. Although the Cardinals have a very impressive record, they are only ranked fifth in the NESCAC standings.
The Cardinals started the new year off on the right foot with a nineteen point win over Rhode Island College. But the Cardinals did not stop there, racking up a six-point win over Albertus Magnus and a ten-point win over Bates, before dropping a heartbreaker on a buzzer beater against Tufts. The Cardinals immediately bounced back with wins over Amherst and Colby.
“Of course the winning streak being snapped wasn’t something that I wanted to happen but I think we learned a lot from that game and I don’t think we’ll ever lose a game like that again,” said Nora Bowman ’05, “I’d much rather that happen now than later on in when a loss means the end of the season.”
The Cardinals seem to have the most trouble getting past their NESCAC rivals, with all of their losses coming from NESCAC teams. They have lost their last two games against NESCAC rivals the Bowdoin Polar Bears (16-0) and the Williams College Ephs (15-2). The Polar Bears and Ephs are tied for first in NESCAC standings with a 3-0 record.
In their last effort against Williams, the Cardinals were led in points by Hannah Stubbs ’06, who put up fourteen, and Amy Posocco ’04, who added thirteen. Posocco, who is leading the NESCAC in three-point goal percentage, went three for six in the game.
These two powerhouses have been leading the team all season in scoring, with Stubbs averaging 11.7 points per game and Posocco averaging 10.2. Ashley Mastrangelo ’06, who is the Cardinals second-leading rebounder, averages nearly six a game, had ten against the Ephs. Though Wes put up good numbers at the board, turnovers seemed to be a big problem, as they handed the ball over to the Ephs’ twenty-five times.
The Cardinals are sitting pretty at home for their next game against Connecticut College Saturday January 31st. The Cardinals have dropped their last two NESCAC games and are looking to move up in their conference standings with a win.
“NESCAC games are extremely competitive and there really are no games that can be taken for granted. I think for the most part we have met this challenge and I am confident we will continue to throughout the last stretch of the season,” Bowman said. “Our team works really hard and has such a will to win, I am very excited to see where this will bring us this season.”
The tri-captains, Posocco, Meeghan Ward ’04, and Liz Walsh ’04 said they feel positive about the season.
“Recently, our winning streak was broken, which we are all disappointed about, but are ready learn from and move forward,” said tri-captain Posocco. “The last few games have been difficult because we have not come out ready to play in the second half, have lost our focus defensively, and as a result our fast break and offensive transition have been hindered.”
She cited Williams as an example of this, saying that while losing was frustrating, it allowed them to refocus their goals for the season.
The ballers will square off against Connecticut College at home Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the field house.
Leave a Reply