Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio

Danbury
2000

Coverage of the women's Final Four

Despite playing without All-American forwards Alia Fischer and Tasha Rodgers for most of the first half, Washington scored its 68th win in a row, thrashing Little East Conference champ Southern Maine 79-33 before a crowd of 1,746.

The winning margin of victory (46 points) and the 33 points Southern Maine was limited to were both championship game records. No women's final had been decided by more than 19 points previously.

Washington, champions of the University Athletic Association, lost the 1994 final to Capital by 82-63.

You could say times have changed.

"This feels absolutely amazing," said Washington senior guard Beth Ruether, who scored a game-high 16 points, 11 above her season average. "You couldn't ask to end the season any better."

Though the Bears will lose four of its five starters to graduation -- Fischer included -- UCLA's record might be within reach, in Game 20, next season. Many of the players who will fill the shoes of the graduating seniors played key roles in the victory last night on Western Connecticut State's Westside Campus.

Though Southern Maine (26-6) accomplished far more this season than anyone thought possible, it was close to helpless in trying to stop Washington's lethal inside-outside game, and in dealing with the Bears' depth. The Huskies hurt themselves further by shooting 12-of-54 from the floor for the game.

Washington led 38-17 at halftime despite having the senior center Fischer and the junior power forward Rodgers limited to a combined 10 minutes of playing time.

Rodgers, who will be Washington's lone returning starter for next season, scored the first four points of the second half, boosting the Bears' lead to 42-17. Back to back three-pointers by reserve center Lindsey Merrill and Ruether (4-for-6 3-pointers) and a basket by Rodgers blew open a 51-20 lead for Washington with 14 minutes to play in the game.

Washington coach Nancy Fahey removed her starters one by one as time wound down. She fittingly saved Fischer, the three-time Team of the Year member, for last, pulling the talented post player with 2:23 to go.

The outcome had been determined long before that, though, yet in a manner that was unexpected in the first half.

Rodgers went to the bench first for Washington, incurring her second personal foul with just 3:56 having expired. Fischer picked up her second foul with 5:35 gone, and Fahey quickly replaced her.

The Bears, who were leading by 11-5 at the time, proceeded to go on a 19-2 run without their two All-American post players, securing a 30-7 stronghold on the game. Washington's lead later improved to 35-10 late in the first half.

Southern Maine had opened the game playing man to man defense. Fifield quickly switched to a zone after Rodgers and Fischer combined to score the game's first five points from underneath.

Unfortunately for the Huskies, they were still in the zone when Rodgers and Fischer exited, and guards Sue Tucker and Sara Ettner took command. The Bears' response to the absence of their starting post players was three consecutive three-pointers from Tucker and Ettner, conversions that sent their team to a 20-7 advantage.

Merrill, the junior heir apparent to Fischer at center, stepped in and threw up a lefty hook a la Fischer, and pulled in nine first-half rebounds. Sophomore forward Robin Lahargoue and Ruether each scored seven first-half points. Fischer and Rodgers didn't return until the start of the second half.

"Our players all get a lot of playing time," said Fahey. "We've shared a lot of time, so we expected other people to step up tonight."

Southern Maine wound up converting just seven of 26 first-half shots, with standout guards Julie Plant and Trish Ripton going a combined 2-for-13. The Huskies missed five layups during the opening 20 minutes and were outrebounded 27-9.

The second half was even worse for Southern Maine (5-for-28, 18%). Junior forward Jessica Hopkins scored a team-high nine points for the Huskies on 4-for-9 shooting, and had five rebounds.

"(Washington) was just clogging the passing lanes and was an outstanding defensive team," said Plant. "That might have surprised us a little."

Despite the record-setting loss, none of the Southern Maine players was ready to hang their heads, not after the way they rallied during the postseason.

"It's been a privilege to play with these girls," said Plant. "It's been an outstanding experience."

NOTES: Rodgers, Fischer, Ripton, Jennifer Ulstad of St. Thomas and Kelly Halpin of Scranton were named to the all-tournament team.

Washington (30-0): Rodgers 6-10 2-2 14, Harold 1-7 2-2 4, Fischer 4-8 5-7 13, Tucker 1-6 2-4 5, Ruether 4-8 4-4 16, Merrill 2-3 1-2 6, Ettner 2-4 0-0 6, Lahargoue 3-4 1-2 7, Kramer 0-1 0-0 0, Stuber 0-1 0-0 0, Neiburger 0-0 0-0 0, Rudis 0-2 4-4 4, Sullivan 1-1 0-0 2, Krakoff 1-1 0-0 2; TOTALS: 25-56 21-27 79.

S. Maine (26-6): Kimball 2-9 2-3 6, Hopkins 4-9 0-0 9, Zahm 3-3 0-0 6, Hathaway 0-1 0-0 0, Plant 2-15 0-0 5, Dominiczak 0-1 0-0 0, DeGraw 0-0 0-0 0, Ripton 1-7 3-5 6, Crockett 0-1 0-0 0, Libby 0-4 0-0 0, Shaw 0-1 0-0 0, Burgoin 0-1 0-0 0, Watkins 0-2 0-0 0, McLaughlin 0-0 1-2 1, Lemieux 0-0 0-0 0; TOTALS: 12-54 6-10 33.

Halftime: Washington 38, S. Maine 17; 3-point goals: Washington 8-15 (Tucker 1-4, Ruether 4-6, Merrill 1-1, Ettner 2-3, Kramer 0-1), S. Maine 3-15 (Hopkins 1-2, Plant 1-7, Ripton 1-5, Shaw 0-1); Rebounds: Washington 53 (Fischer 11), S. Maine 25 (Hopkins 5); Assists: Washington 21 (Tucker 8), S. Maine 9 (Kimball 3); Total fouls: Washington 14, S. Maine 20; Technical fouls: none; Fouled out: none; Officials: Ciminera, Miller, Waingert (Robertson alternate); Att: 1,746.

Contact Us
About us
Feedback
Privacy Policy
Send Game Scores
Send Press Releases
Team of Week Nominations
User Survey