NKU women defeat top-ranked California (Pa.), advance to NCAA Division II national championship game

(This story was originally published in The Kentucky Post on March 28, 2003)

By Kevin Goheen

Post staff reporter

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Three years ago, Amy Mobley, Kristen Polosky and Bridget Flanagan got the chance to play for a national championship as freshmen.

The trio will now get a chance to close out their college careers the same way they started.

The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team beat top-ranked California (Pa.), 45-43, Thursday night at the St. Joseph Civic Arena to advance to the NCAA Division II championship game Saturday night against No. 4 South Dakota State in a rematch of an opening-round Elite Eight game from last year. The Norse (26-7) handed California just its second loss in 35 games this season.

South Dakota State won last year’s contest, 68-67, and reached this season’s championship game by beating No. 2 Bentley, 69-62, in overtime in the second semifinal Thursday night. The Jackrabbits (31-3) trailed almost the entire regulation period but Stacie Cizek banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

South Dakota State edged NKU last year when Shari Johnson made a free throw with 4.1 seconds remaining. That game was played in Rochester, Minn.

Should the 15th-ranked Norse win their second title in four years, no one will be able to say they didn't earn it. In the NCAA tournament, NKU has now knocked off the teams ranked No. 20 (Grand Valley State), No. 7 (Indianapolis), No. 5 (Washburn) and No. 1 in its five games.

"It’s a heck of a way to wrap up your career," said Polosky. "Most teams don't get to the Elite Eight ever, and we're here three times and in the final game twice. It's an unbelievable feeling, and it's what we worked for all year."

NKU will be playing Saturday despite an offensive performance in which it made just 27 percent of its shots (15-of-55), including just seven-of-30 in the second half, and connected on just three-of-17 3-pointers and 12-of-19 free throws. The Norse compensated by turning the ball over just 10 times and forcing California into 21 of its own.

The Vulcans shot just 33 percent (18-of-54) and made it to the free throw line just nine times, making six.

California's All-American forward Becky Siembak finished with 14 points, but scored just four in the second half.

"It was a pretty ugly game to be honest with you," said NKU coach Nancy Winstel. "This was one of those games that when the clock went down to zero we happened to be up."

California came into the game averaging 77.7 points, but was held to its lowest point total of the season. California's lowest output had been 58. The Vulcans had been held to less than 70 points only five times.

"We beat them in practically every category — except points," said California coach Darcie Vincent. "That's what really matters. It's hard to believe a team is going to the championship game after only shooting 27 percent."

NKU didn't make its first field goal — a 3-pointer by Flanagan — until there was 13:47 left in the first half, but the Norse trailed by just two points, 8-6, after the basket. Such was the nature of this game.

The Norse were determined to run as much time off of the clock as possible with each possession, and with 6-foot-9 Suzie Gyarfas standing guard in front of the basket for California, points were going to be hard to come by.

Gyarfas had six blocked shots, caused two traveling calls and altered several other shot attempts by NKU.

The teams scored a total of 10 points in the final 8:31 of the game, but NKU got six of them. Polosky, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five steals, scored the final four points for the Norse, all from the free-throw line. Neither team scored in the final 1:54 of the game.

Three times California had a chance to in-bound the ball in the final nine seconds. Three times, NKU's defense made the plays it had to. The Norse had one foul to give on the first inbounds, and sophomore guard Elizabeth Burrows utilized it with 7.6 seconds left.

On the second inbounds, freshman guard Megan Storck drove the baseline and tried to pass it off inside, but the ball was knocked out of bounds by NKU with 1.1 remaining.

Freshman Sharell Snardon made the final stand for NKU. California forward Sameera Philyaw received the inbounds pass but couldn't get off a shot around Snardon. Instead, the ball was knocked harmlessly away from Philyaw through the lane, where Burrows picked it up and gave it a big hug as the final horn sounded.

Snardon scored 11 points for NKU. Mobley and Flanagan each scored eight points.

NKU is seeking its second national championship in four years. The Norse captured the 2000 NCAA Division II national title with a 71-62 overtime victory against North Dakota State.