LISLE, Ill. – They are dancing! The Edgewood College Women's Basketball wrote its best chapter yet in the best story in NCAA Division III Women's Basketball. Edgewood College used a 21-0 run during the third quarter and never looked back in defeating top-seeded Benedictine University, 88-72, in the NACC Tournament Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game changed in the third quarter when, with Edgewood College trailing 45-43, the Eagles ripped off a 21-0 run to go up 64-45. Edgewood College, which trailed by two at the half, dominated the third quarter, outscoring Benedictine 32-11.
- In the fourth quarter, Benedictine would get as close as 12 points, but never really threatened the Edgewood College lead. Edgewood College closed out the 16-point win over a team that hadn't lost a NACC contest all year, this just days after they defeated the defending NACC Tournament champions (Wisconsin Lutheran) by 22 points. The dominant fashion Edgewood College won in the NACC Tournament was as impressive as the turnaround by the program.
- The Lemirande sisters were their usual selves on Sunday as
Alyssa Lemirande and
Bria Lemirande showed why they are two of the best, if not the two best, guards in the NACC. Alyssa scored a career-high 27 points, shooting 12-for-18 from the floor. Bria posted yet another double-double, recording career highs in both points (20) and rebounds (14).
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Abby Shane was terrific again on Sunday for the Eagles, scoring 13 points, while shooting 3-for-5 from 3-point range. She was 3-for-3 in the semifinal win, shooting a ridiculous 6-for-8 in two NACC Tournament games.
- Team captain
Diamond Pikulyk contributed another double-digit scoring effort with 13 points off the bench.
Emma Klein added seven points and seven rebounds, including the first four points of the game for Edgewood College.
- While the above players made the headlines, it wouldn't be right to tell the story without including all of the Edgewood College players: In addition to those mentioned,
Mady Pahl,
Delaney Wilhelm,
Brooke Lonigro,
Sydney Ignoffo,
Parker Fetherston,
Annika Lundgren,
Jennifer Freeman,
Mia Edwards,
Claire Frankiewicz,
Lexi Walter,
Ashley Ortscheid, and
Riley Larson played key roles on this team. One through 17 if you ever watched the Eagles play or practice, you know this was a complete team.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The NACC Tournament title is the first for the Eagles. Edgewood College also won a Lake Michigan Conference Tournament title in 2005.
- Coach
Chaia Huff and her staff have done an incredible job with the turnaround of the program. Huff inherited a team that went 0-25 in her first season and just three years later she was cutting down the nets, celebrating a NCAA Tournament berth.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles will find out their first round opponent during tomorrow's selection show at 1:30 p.m. Stay tuned to EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com for more information on the show.
