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12 Days of Championships: Will Bears roll ‘Deis?
4 Comments · Posted by Pat Coleman in General
For many years Washington U. was the standard for Division III women’s basketball excellence.
The Bears rolled off four consecutive national titles from 1998 to 2001. Then they started a new, less enjoyable trend in 2002:
2002: Lose to UW-Stevens Point in the tournament. UW-Stevens Point wins the title.
2003: Lose to Trinity (Texas) in the tournament. Trinity (Texas) wins the title.
2005: Lost to Millikin in the tournament. Millikin wins the title.
Tonight the Bears can be pioneers of excellence again. With a win at No. 12 Brandeis, Wash U. will clinch the UAA title and be the first team to wrap up a bid to the NCAA tournament. You can hear the game on WBRS at 6 PM.
Not that the Judges and Caitlin Malcolm (pictured) will just roll over. They have plenty to play for as they chase Wash U. in conference and Southern Maine and Bowdoin in region.
Elsewhere the LMC women’s tournament resumes play, weather permitting. And lots of other teams gear up for a final push just to make their conference tournament.
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Old School · February 17, 2006 at 6:13 am
Speaking of trends. Since UWSP became a full D3 member in the mid 90′s, the MEN’S team has been to the NCAA tournament five times. Everyone knows they’ve won it twice (obviously being the last two years). But, the three times they didn’t win it, the team that beat them ended up as National Runners Up. Nebraska Wesleyan nailed a 3-pter at the end to beat Point in the sectional semis in 97, eventually losing to Ill. Wesleyan in the final. Eau Claire hit a 30 footer as time expired to top Point in the sectional finals at Buena Vista in 2000 and then lost to Calvin for the national championship. And then Gustavus Adolphus upset Point in Quandt in 2003, only to lose to Williams for the Walnut and Bronze. So, if you beat Point in the tourney, at least you make it the final!
It’ll be a close game too! GAC lost by two, Eau Claire lost by five and and Nebraska Wesleyan lost by three. Of course, there has got to be a way for Point to make it to the tourney this year and not win the title since it’s been every three years (1997, 2000, 2003)!
jagluski · February 17, 2006 at 6:38 pm
For those of you who are interested:
At the half from Waltham, MA:
#3 Wash U 30, #12 Brandeis 28
jagluski · February 17, 2006 at 7:22 pm
From Waltham, MA…
5:30 to go 2nd Half
#3 Wash U 52, #12 Brandeis 44
jagluski · February 17, 2006 at 7:40 pm
From Waltham, MA…
Final Score
#3 Wash U 66, #12 Brandeis 54
Wash U(21-2, 11-1) has clinched the UAA championship for the 9th consecutive year and becomes the first team in the country to earn a berth to the Division III NCAA Tournament!
Congratulations, Bears!