Women's rollercoaster season ends with championship loss
By Justin ShepardOnline Editor, The VOICE
The women's basketball team experienced it all in their 2008-2009 campaign.
It was a season that included streaks of bliss and of dissapointment.
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Photo by Dan Gaona/Aztec Press
Gauchos' forward Janessa Adeleye (#24) defends against Pima's Tina Morrison (#33) in the ACCAC Division II Championship Game.
The ladies had warned in pre-season that they were going to be a team of surprise and that the special comraderie among them was going to be used to their benefit.
They went 1-for-2 on their commitment.
The Lady Gauchos put themselves in the record books in their season-opener by posting 136 points, a NJCAA record for most points scored in a game. This propelled them into a four game win streak to begin the year.
Following the hot start, the team lacked consistency and failed to put a string of several wins together.
The team was however, able to beat several strong, nationally-ranked opponents such a Schoolcraft and Mesa during the regular season.
An undisclosed situation within the team resulted in a coaching change three quarters of the way through the year. The team that once prided themselves on chemistry suddenly admitted the ailing relationship among the players.
Despite the rollercoaster season and ending the regular season with six consecutive losses, the club was able to secure a berth in the playoffs.
The fourth-seeded Gaucho's headed to Mesa on Mar. 3 to take on the top-seeded Thunderbirds in the Divisional semi-finals. Glendale outrebounded Mesa on both ends of the court, ending the first- half on a strong scoring run and leading 49-44 going into intermission.
In the remaining minutes of the game, Glendale grabbed a loose ball and held on for a 78-74 upset victory, clinching a spot in the NJCAA Region I Division II Championship game against number two Pima on March 6.
The only obstacle separating GCC from a trip to Illinois for the national tournament was another turnaround team from a year ago, a team saturated with impressive freshmen players.
Glendale saw thier championship hopes fade as the Pima Aztecs held the ladies to low-scoring, handing GCC a 61-47 loss.
This was the second time in the season the Gaucho's posted a season-low 47 points.
Sophomore Brittany Lopez had yet another solid year, ending the regular season averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. Freshman Ceslii Granado was impressive, leading the conference with 6 assists per game.
Center Lilli McCartney was fifth in the conference in field goal percentage, converting 55.4% of her attempts.
Freshman Janessa Adeleye averaged 14 points per game in the regular season (15th in the conference). Adeleye's performance garnered her national recognition as she was named a member of the ACCAC All-Conference Third Team.
Next season looks optimistic for Glendale. With a handful of returning players and several talents recruited out of high school, the club is looking forward.
The GCC athletics webpage reported that assistant coach Fred Haynes has stepped in as interim head coach for the team until the position is filled.
Please send comments to jshepard@gccvoice.com
