UC Schooled Regional Foe in Regular Season
March 8, 2005

By Jeff Rider
Staff writer, The Charleston Gazette

It’s been more than three months since the University of Charleston served up a 35-point whooping on Clarion University at Eddie King Gym.

The sting of that loss still lingers for Clarion coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons. She hopes her players haven’t forgotten, either.

"We got our butts kicked," said Parsons, who will lead the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles (23-6) into Friday’s NCAA Division II East Regional quarterfinal against No. 3 Charleston. "[UC] won just about every category. They outrebounded us significantly, had 17 assists. I think they did have one more turnover.

"I don’t think we got off the bus last time. The women will get themselves up [Friday]."

Simply labeling Charleston’s 89-54 victory on Nov. 28 as lopsided doesn’t do justice to the performance turned in by coach Sherry Winn’s club.

UC shot 61 percent from the floor in the first half, leading to a 42-28 advantage at the break, and ended the game with a 20-4 run. The Golden Eagles (26-4) held a 54-39 edge on the glass, including 18 offensive boards. Clarion was held to 29-percent shooting en route to its lowest scoring output of the season.

While those numbers don’t exactly paint a promising picture of Clarion’s chances in Friday’s quarterfinal, Parsons isn’t about to concede defeat.

"It was a long time ago," said Parsons. "I think we’ve grown together as a team. Up until [Friday’s PSAC semifinal loss to Millersville], we were playing great."

Indeed, following the debacle in Charleston, Clarion collected 14 wins in its next 16 games, including victories over NCAA-bound California (Pa.) and Millersville. The Golden Eagles climbed as high as No. 2 in the East Regional rankings.

"Some people say the [UC] loss helped," said Parsons, coaching her 16th season at Clarion. "I really don’t know. Maybe it got our attention. Maybe it did springboard us to some win streaks."

Clarion is led by 6-foot-1 senior forward Heather Cigich, who averaged 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds. Shay Godwin, a 6-2 senior center, chips in 14.3 points and 9.8 boards per game. The backcourt features 5-7 junior Melba Melton (11.9 points, 4.8 assists), 5-11 senior Amelia Harris (10.4 points, 61 3-pointers), and 5-7 freshman Ashley Grimm (5.8 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds).

"It’s been a great team effort," said Parsons.

Clarion is making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1995, the final season of the Golden Eagles’ four-year run of tourney bids. Parsons has guided Clarion to the D-II Elite Eight twice, in 1993 and ’94.