Marymount Loses Twice at Final Four

Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 3/21/02)

Marymount University’s first trip to the women’s Division III Final Four did not turn out as planned, as the Saints lost to Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the semi-finals and to DePauw University in the third place game.

But the Saints received some good news during the championship banquet when senior guard Candice Brown was named to the Kodak All American first team for the second straight year.

The 5’7" senior missed seven games with a broken hand, but still averaged 15.7 points per game, tops on the team. She also pulled down 6.3 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

In semi-final action last Friday night, Marymount lost to Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 80-57. It was a long evening for the Saints. They managed only one tie in the ballgame, and that was one minute and nine seconds into the game when Katie Jarvis scored a lay-up to tie the game at 2-2.

The Pointers, who shot 43 percent in the first half, forced 14 first-half turnovers. That, combined with the Saints shooting 9-24 in the first half, spelled trouble for Marymount. Stevens Point led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but a three-point play by Jodie Knox as time expired cut the lead to 33-25 and gave the Saints hope for the second half.

After the Pointers’ Andrea Kraemer hit a free throw to start the second half, Katie Jarvis hit on 3 of 4 foul shots to cut the Stevens Point lead to six points. But that was as close as the Saints would come, as the Pointers rolled off six straight points.

A stifling Stevens Point defense shut down the Marymount offense as only two players hit double figures. Jarvis was tied for high-game honors with 15 points. Christene Lingenfelder came off the bench to add 11 points and four rebounds.

Brown was held to a career-low two points. She also had four rebounds, three assists and seven steals.

"I’m very proud of the way our team played, but we played a great team tonight," said Marymount Head Coach Bill Finney. "I thought our triangle defense and 2-3 zone might throw them off balance, but it didn’t work."

In the third place game on Saturday, Marymount cut the DePauw lead to two points with two minutes and 54 seconds left in the second half, but the Saints fell 65-58.

Brown and Jarvis each scored 12 points. Jarvis added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jodie Knotts and Gen Schmitt each scored 11 points. Brown ended her illustrious Marymount career by fouling out with 23 seconds remaining.

When asked how she felt about fouling out, Brown replied, "I’d do anything for the team. I’ll foul out if it can help."

Finney said Brown was most-deserving of the All-American honor. "She works year-round on her game and her desire and discipline complement her talent."

Marymount ended its season with a 24-8 mark and played more games than any other team in school history. This was the Saints best finish in 10 NCAA post-season appearances.

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