Grizzlies make March Madness
By Monica Harvey, March 4, 2010
The women’s basketball team earned its first NCAA Division III tournament birth since 2006 – sixth overall – with an 80-73 win over Hanover College in the HCAC Championship last Friday night. The Grizzlies (21-6) play host Illinois Wesleyan University (26-1) at Bloomington, Ill. tonight at 8 p.m.
“It really has been a magical season and I’ve enjoyed the ride,” head coach Kim Eiler said.
Four different Grizzlies scored in double digits, led by sophomore Sarah Condra who dropped 22, including four three-point baskets. Senior Heather Harper and junior Brittney Wilson scored 16 each and senior Tracy Lippold added 13. Junior Monica Planalp led the team in assists with six, while Condra grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.
“I thought that in terms of the crowd support and the Franklin community support it was absolutely an electric atmosphere in the gym, the student section was amazing” Eiler said.
Molly Martin’s 36-point, 12-rebound effort helped her earn the HCAC Tournament Most Valuable player award, but was not enough to overcome the Grizzlies’ team attack.
Franklin’s Condra, Harper and Wilson were all named to the all-tournament team, as was Hanover’s Martin.
“It’s an amazing feeling and I never thought my senior year would be like this in a million years” Harper said.
IWU - No. 3 in the country according to both the USA Today and ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Polls – earned an at-large bid for its fourth straight tournament appearance.
The Titans own a 80.3 points-per-game average, while giving up an average of just 58.4. Three different Titans average double-digit scoring, led by Christina Solari with 13.1 points-per-game. Solari also leads in rebounds, grabbing 8.6 per game.
The Grizzlies average 68.6 points-per-game, while giving up 61.7. The Grizzly offensive attack is led by Condra with15.9 points-per-game, while Harper adds 15.6 points- and 6.8 rebounds-per-game.
Franklin and IWU share two common opponents — North Central College and Elmhurst College. Both teams beat North Central, but IWU beat Elmhurst twice (82-72, 73-60) while Franklin lost to Elmhurst (85-57).
Admission cost at the door is $4 for students – with a college I.D. – and senior citizens and $7 for adults.
“We could go all the way; we have the parts we just need to all be on the same page at the same time” Planalp said.
Add Comment
There are currently no comments.
You must log in or register to post comments.
