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Around
the Nation

Posted Dec. 15, 2005

E-mail: mark@d3hoops.com

Huskies defy
a simple description
We tried to put our finger on what characterizes three of the best women's basketball programs in Maine.

With Bowdoin, it's a defense that can drop the hammer at a moment's notice and turn a two-point lead into a 12-point lead. At Bates, you're going to see a team that is regarded highly for its run-and-gun style and can put 70-80 points up consistently. But how should we characterize Southern Maine's basketball style in a nutshell? What is the trademark for the No. 1 team in the country? We asked the head coach and the team's top two scorers and all three had to think about it.

“That's a hard question,” said senior forward Ashley Marble, one of five returning starters and a second-team preseason All-America selection. “I think it's hard to characterize us.”

“I would say (the trademark) is versatility,” said forward Megan Myles, the squad's No. 2 scorer, who has drawn praise from several New England-based coaches for her play in big games. “There's versatility in all the players on the team. We have a running game, but we can also play defense. We can play a small lineup or we can play a big lineup.”

“We're opportunistic,” said longtime head coach Gary Fifield.

The answer may be that Southern Maine is simply known for perennially playing winning basketball. The Huskies are No. 1 in the country and have earned that ranking through the first eight games of the season. Southern Maine returns five starters from a team that lost in the national semis to eventual champ Millikin, 66-60 and has beaten three of the top teams in New England in Bowdoin, Bates, and Williams.

“Everyone realizes we have a great opportunity,” Marble said and that applies not only this season, but to have the chance to play for a consistent, dominant team.

The Huskies have won nine straight Little East tournament championships and made 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Fifield's coaching record at Southern Maine is a rather ridiculous 465-77. His worst team since his first season (1987-88) went 22-7 in 1993-94 and is the only one in his tenure that didn't make the NCAA playoffs (it won an ECAC crown).

If you look at Division III women's sports programs with sustained excellence, over nearly two full decades, you can look Kenyon's dominance in swimming or The College of New Jersey's success in field hockey and lacrosse. Southern Maine's résumé is just as good. The only thing missing is a national title.

To say that this is the team's best shot would be unfair, because the Huskies have been viewed as having as a title contender for what seems like forever. But it could be. Not only has Southern Maine gone undefeated through the early part of its schedule, it beat rival Bowdoin for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. The No. 2 Polar Bears bring with them an intimidation factor that is usually worth quite a few points, but Southern Maine showed no fear when it won 64-55 on Nov. 29.

“I felt like we were there both mentally and physically,” Marble said. “I was really impressed that we persevered.”

The Huskies feel they are better equipped not only to deal with their string of regular-season foes, but some teams they could see down the line. Myles and Marble combined for 55 of Southern Maine 's 60 points against Millikin (this season, they're combining for 30 points a game), but the feeling is that others are capable of matching their caliber of play. That showed in last year's third-place game, one that Southern Maine took very seriously and beat Scranton, 55-53.

“I think that set the tone for this season,” Fifield said.

“I know that everyone has improved,” Marble said. “Donna (Cowing) has been very consistent. Katie Sibley (the only junior in a lineup with four seniors) has picked up her defense. Katie Frost has been consistent with her 3-point shooting. Our non-starters all really worked on their game.”

“We learned that we have to be more physical. We have to be able to play against bigger opponents, so we've tried to become physically stronger. I think that in big games, we've really believed in the team and what we're doing. That's a difference. We took what happened and learned a tremendous amount.”

The last time we talked with them, Southern Maine talked about replacing Fifield's ring earned from previous runner-up finishes. Now they talk about replacing the ones they got last year.

“We've got rings that say third place and that's just not what you want,” Marble said.

'CROSSE YOUR FINGERS: How amazing is the 10-0 start (4-0 in the WIAC) for the UW-La Crosse women's basketball team? This is a record that would seem to defy logic considering that a) The Eagles had been perennially below average in one of the top leagues in the country and b) The team's best returning player, senior guard Shawna Koss, tore her ACL in the second game of the season, joining three other key members of the squad who suffered serious leg injuries within the past 10 months.

“I don't know how to explain it,” said UW-La Crosse head coach Lois Hereen. “To do what we have is pretty phenomenal.”

Like the Carroll team we featured in this space last week, UW-La Crosse has had things come together perfectly through the first month of the season. In fact, both squads share the similarity of having ended long losing streaks to UW-Stevens Point. The Eagles did so in league play, and won consecutive road games at UW-Whitewater, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-Platteville. They also snagged an opening weekend comeback win against Rockford that Hereen felt marked an early turning point.

UW-La Crosse is 10-0 for the first time since 1981-82 and 4-0 in the WIAC for the first time since that same season. The 10 wins is one shy of the total from 2004-05. The Eagles are winning with rebounding (+5.9 margin), defense (131 steals, 53.7 points allowed) and a quick-paced style. The recruiting class for this season included an unprecedented four All-State honorable mention selections. Most notable among the freshmen is 6-foot guard/forward Mackenzie Hunter (10.2 points), the only player averaging double figures in scoring, and freshman forward Sarah Stachula. Key newcomers in a reserve role are Eau Claire transfer Ashley Fall (7.2 points, 7.6 rebounds), and point guard Anna Halat, who converted to the position after winning a state championship while playing power forward in high school.

“We knew we were going to be better this season, but I didn't know where we were heading,” Hereen said, adding when asked about her rebuilding work the past few seasons that “Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was Wisconsin-La Crosse.”

Where they're heading for winter break is California, for three games just prior to the New Year. When Hereen mentions that the trip will be a good “warm-up” for conference play, she means it literally. It'll be a brief respite from the chilly Wisconsin weather and a good way to get the team ready for back-to-back big games when it returns with UW-Stout and UW-Oshkosh.

“The WIAC is just so tough,” Hereen said. “We're just trying to get through each game 1-0.”

NOT THEIR NORMAL
GOOD START: It's not unusual for the Augustana men to get off to a good start, as the program has historically always been strong, but this start has surpassed the ‘good' stage and moved to ‘great.' Their coach is referring to it as “unique.”

The Vikings are 7-0 for the first time since 1981-82 and they've done so with five road wins. There have been a number of keys to their success, most notably the play of senior guard Rick Harrigan, who is among the nation's leading scorers at 27.6 points per game and is shooting 53% from 3-point range. Harrigan, a Chicago native, has doubled his scoring average from last season, though that's a little misleading, as he batted the effects of a broken hand in the 2004-05 season. Harrigan, below, has overcome his share of serious issues, both injury-wise and personal (a death in his family two years ago) and has put together an amazing effort that dates back to the end of last season.

“At the end of last year, he was exceptional (in wins over Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton, and a one-point loss to Elmhurst),” said head coach Grey Giovanine. “Everyone knew he had the capability of being outstanding. Rick has faced adversity and persevered through some tremendously difficult times. As a coach, you love to have a kid like that. Both our seniors, Rick and Jay (McAdams-Thornton, the team's second-leading scorer), have been outstanding when we've needed them most.”

Augustana has been bit by injuries lately but is viewed by others within the CCIW as being a legitimate threat to Illinois Wesleyan.

“I think we can be really good if we can get everybody on the court,” Giovanine said. “We've had some awfully good teams here, but we're very enthused about the possibilities.”

Notes for Around the Nation are compiled with the help of sports information directors across the country. If you have suggestions or information for this column, please send it to mark@d3hoops.com.

2008-09 columns
Feb. 20: York (Pa.), no cliche
Feb. 13: St. Thomas writing history
Feb. 6: George Fox on hunt
Jan. 30: Brother, brother
Jan. 23: Growing a program
Jan. 16: Dudek's rare feat
Jan. 9: Ravin' about Anderson
Dec. 18: Chicago marooned at 0-9
Dec. 12: De Luca back on track
Dec. 4: Ithaca surprises
Nov. 21: Augie gets some delp
Nov. 13: Is repeat possible?

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