University of Charleston Women's Basketball Team Return Home Champs
March 16, 2005
By Tommy R. Atkinson
Staff writer, The Charleston Gazette
The welcome-home banner said it all — "UC Golden Eagles East Region Champs."
The University of Charleston women’s basketball team returned Tuesday evening to its Kanawha City campus, where it was greeted by a couple-hundred well-wishers after capturing the NCAA Division II East Region championship Monday in Anderson, S.C. A reception followed inside the Geary Student Union.
"It was an awesome feeling to know you have people who are excited for you and want to be a part of your program,’’ said UC coach Sherry Winn.
"[The players] were thrilled. The bus driver was blowing his horn. Everybody was cheering and screaming for them. One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to be in the Sweet 16. We believed all year long we were capable of doing that. I really felt like all year long we had a special team.’’
The Golden Eagles (29-4), who fell to Glenville State in the West Virginia Conference tournament semifinals, defeated Clarion (Pa.), defending national champion California (Pa.) and Anderson (S.C.), the host team and No. 1 seed at the regional, for the title. UC advances to its first Elite Eight in Hot Springs, Ark., and will take on Washburn (Kan.) University (31-2) at 7 p.m. March 23.
The Golden Eagles, who picked up their first NCAA tournament victory against Clarion on Friday, are only the second WVC women’s squad to reach Division II’s top hoops event. Glenville State advanced in 2002.
UC junior forward Lisa Lee, a former Capital High School standout, and sophomore guard Courtney Thomas were named to the all-region team, and Lee was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
"I don’t think I’m going to take it in for a while,’’ said Winn, a former standout player at UC. "We’re going to be working too hard. We still have a big challenge ahead of us.’’
Winn said the loss to Glenville played a big role in the Golden Eagles’ postseason run.
"[The players] were really upset about the loss to Glenville,’’ she said. "We knew it was us. The four losses we had this year were things we did to ourselves. That was really hard to have that loss to Glenville and turn around and watch the [WVC] championship game and not be in it. That was a big turning point for us.’’
Winn said the team’s confidence returned during the regional.
"A couple of things were in our favor that got our confidence going,’’ she said. "The gym was very similar to Eddie King in terms of size.
"The second thing was that we played Clarion first and that was a team we had already beaten handily. That just helped ease us into the tournament. Once we beat Clarion we really felt we had a shot. It wasn’t just one or two players showing up. The whole team came to play. They were just ready to come out and leave their hearts out on the floor.’’
Winn said she will begin breaking down tapes of Washburn as soon as possible. Washburn defeated Emporia (Kan.) State 63-51 in the South Central Region title game.
"I don’t know anything yet,’’ Winn said. "They came out of an equally tough region. It’s just like regionals: Every team is a good team. There’s teams that don’t have very many losses. Everybody coming in is really tough.’’