Back-to-Back Northern Athletics Conference Champions
Women's Basketball Game Notes / Season Recap
For Immediate Release: July 14, 2008
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its winners for the 2007-08 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll Monday. This award, given in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College, awards teams throughout the nation that carry the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the entire season based on the nomination submitted by WBCA-member head coaches.
All five institutions are no stranger to the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll as each one has received distinction on this list before. South Dakota State claimed the top spot in NCAA Division I for the third consecutive year while South Dakota, in NCAA Division II, and Concordia University (Wisconsin), in NCAA Division III, are claiming the No. 1 ranking in each one's respective division for the first time. In the NAIA ranks, Concordia University - Nebraska takes home the highest GPA for the seventh time (2000-05, 2008) since this award began in 1998. Seward County has also enjoyed the poll position in its division (JC/CC) prior to this year claiming top honors in 2001 and 2002.
GPAs are calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by each student-athlete on an institution's roster in the given academic terms by the total number of hours earned by the team. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Per a motion passed by the WBCA Board of Directors in 2007, teams making the list of Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll must obtain at least a 3.000 overall GPA.
As with South Dakota, Concordia University (Wisconsin) is making its debut at the No. 1 position on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The Falcons claimed back-to-back Northern Athletics Confernce regular season titles and made a run at the tournament title this season, but fell short losing by just two points in overtime. Head Coach Stacey Brunner's club finished the season with 20 wins and just seven losses.
"This is an outstanding accomplishment," said Brunner. "Like so many universities, we strive to be No. 1 off the court as well as on! I am so proud of our players for reaching this goal."
WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division III
1. Concordia University Wisconsin 3.637
2. Messiah College 3.627
3. Saint Lawrence University 3.528
4. Emory University 3.501
5. College of St. Benedict 3.488
The full release can be found at http://www.wbca.org/Releases/2008AcademicTop25Release.htm
(Article courtesy of WBCA)
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POST SEASON NEWS:
Falcon junior forward Krista Mayyou was named to the NAC 1st Team all- conference squad for the 2007-8 season. Teammate Angie Davis earned second team honors. Sophomore Pearl Wallace was an Honorable Mention choice and freshman Mel Kulibert made the All Rookie squad. Falcon mentor Stacey Brunner was the NAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
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Women’s Basketball Season Ends Unexpectedly but Captures 2nd Consecutive Regular Season Title
Entering the 2007-08 season the Falcon women’s basketball team had high expectations and demands placed upon their team. Having won the regular season and tournament titles the previous season, along with a bid to the NCAA tournament, it was not going to be easy according to head coach Stacey Brunner. “Every season we want to win the regular season and tournament titles in this conference. We also know that making the NCAA tournament is not an easy feat. With the group of women that we have returning from last season we have a pretty good shot at repeating,” stated Coach Brunner.
The Falcon women opened their season in De Pere, WI at St. Norbert College for the Associated Financial Group Tip-Off Tournament. On day one of the tournament, the Falcon women handed the Vikings of North Park a 40-point defeat. The Falcons controlled every facet of the game as they outscored the Vikings by 34 points in the paint, 31 points off turnovers, caused an astonishing 39 turnovers and stole 27 passes.
After winning in such convincing fashion on day one of the tournament, the Falcons entered the championship game against St. Norbert. The Falcons would trail by only single-digits for most of the first half, until the Green Knights went on a five minute 13-0 run to expand their lead to 15 points. The Falcons would eventually fall in defeat by 17 points. Krista Mayyou and Megan Sopkowicz would earn All-Tournament Team Honors.
The Falcons would then drop their next two games to Concordia Chicago and Ripon College. Concordia Chicago would be the conference opener and it would mark the second time the Falcons would fall at home in a conference game in three seasons. Ripon College also hand CUW their second non-conference loss of the season.
After starting with a dismal 1-3 record, the Falcons would turn up their defensive pressure and cruise through their next five conference opponents by an average of 21 points. The Falcons then improved their record to 6-3 and 5-1 in conference.
Entering the Surf City Classic in Irvine, California, the Falcons had high hopes and tough opponents to compete. During the first day, the Falcons would see the likes of the Eagles from Mary Washington. Mary Washington, nationally ranked 1st at the time, woud have a much tougher battle than they expected themselves. The Falcons entered halftime trailing only by four points on 52.4% shooting. Mary Washington would eventually pull away and prevail by nine points, 71-62.
Day two of the Surf City Classic would not be any easier as the Falcons scuffled against Case Western Reserve. Throughout the contest, there would be six ties and eight lead changes. With the game changing hands so frequently it was inevitable whoever made the last shot would win. After calling timeout with five seconds remaining, Asia Beckum would make a 23-foot three-point shot to seal the deal over the Spartans.
Returning from their sunny California trip, the Falcons would have only two hiccups in their next 15 games. Making their way through the conference with ease the Falcons would fall twice during the Concordia Invitational Tournament. “Repeating as CIT Champs is difficult to do when last year was our first time having the pressure placed on us along with not shooting well cost us a chance to repeat. Next year we will have to play better to get the trophy back in our locker room,” declared head coach Stacey Brunner after the consulation loss.
The Falcon women would end their regular season, as repeat champions with a 17-1 record. Entering the conference tournament the Falcons would meet Benedictine in the first round. Throughout Coach Brunner’s career, she had never lost to the Eagles and again her team would prove that correct as the Falcons would win 66-52.
Entering the semi-final round of the conference tournament the Falcons would encounter Edgewood College for the third time in the season. In the prior two meetings the Falcons won by margins of three points and one point. As the game would play out both teams wanted it much as the other. Leading by as many as 18 points during the first half, the Falcons would see their lead slip to four points entering the locker room for the first half. All through the second half, the score would tie multiple times and change hands on various occasions, as they would need to enter an extra session. In the overtime period, it would become excruciatingly difficult for Coach Brunner to watch as her team would shoot 3-12 from the field and lose by two points, 70-72.
“This season was full of ups and downs, with some definite disappointments, but we all have to remember that it is still was a successful season,” affirmed senior Angie Davis. “Even though we didn’t win the conference tournament for the second consecutive season doesn’t mean that we didn’t have success. We just had success in a different fashion. We will return next year hungrier than this season as we have something to prove not only to ourselves and our teammates, but to the fans and the university,” declared head coach Stacey Brunner.
The Falcons will graduate two seniors off the 2007-08 squad, Angie Davis and Christina Wingfield. During their four-year careers, they would win a Concordia Invitational Tournament Championship, two regular season conference titles, a conference tournament title and a bid to the NCAA tournament. They would also compile a 68-40 overall record in their four years, good for 63% winning percentage.
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