Sports

Conference playoffs within reach for women's basketball

In print | January 22, 2009

The Garnet women’s basketball team emerged from an active winter break with a 3-4 showing, posting a record of 2-3 against Centennial conference opponents. These results bring the women to 4-4 in conference play, which allows them to remain in contention to earn a slot in the five-team conference playoff tournament. Swarthmore, currently sitting in seventh place, is caught in a jam in the middle of the conference rankings with McDaniel (5-3 CC), Gettysburg (5-3 CC) and Johns Hopkins (4-3 CC). Despite having scored two victories over McDaniel so far this season, frustrating losses against Gettysburg and Hopkins have made it difficult for the Garnet to become firmly established in playoff contention.

The team is grounded by a balanced attack led by Melissa Grigsby ’09 and Kathryn Stockbower ’11. Grigsby’s experience, on-court intensity and tenacious defense combined with Stockbower’s ability to score in the low post and her knack for rebounding (she is leading the conference in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.5 points and 15.2 rebounds per game) has elevated the Garnet offense this season. Yet aside from the star-power that comes with Stockbower, the Garnet boasts one of the most impressively balanced teams in the conference. Three players, Stockbower, Grigsby and Ceylan Bodur ’11 have been averaging double-digit figures, and a fourth, Pam Costello ’10, has been averaging 9.7 points per game. The Garnet is third in the conference in assists per game at 13.87 and had all five starters reach double digits twice over the winter break, a remarkable feat. Their impressive statistics are the result of great chemistry, both on and off the court.

Costello cites the excitement of a real playoff possibility as a key factor in building a positive vibe on the team this year, noting that “everyone is excited for that potential to become a reality.” Aside from developing effective teamwork on the court, the team holds yearly rituals to help maintain traditions and try to build camaraderie, including first-year skits, a team favorite. So far, the team-building exercises are doing wonders to foster a positive team environment, crucial in integrating first-years into the team dynamic.

“This is by far my favorite team that I’ve ever played on. The girls are fantastic,” Christina Duron ’12 said.

Costello adds that, “everyone on the team is close this year, freshmen included.” Morale is high, and with the Centennial Conference’s leading shot blocker, Summer Miller-Walfish ’11 (who has averaged 2.92 blocks per game), returning to the lineup after suffering a concussion, things are looking up for the Garnet as they head into the second half of their schedule. Miller-Walfish, who tied the conference record for most blocks in a single game by tallying ten in a win over Dickinson early this month, adds considerably to the depth that has begun to characterize this Garnet squad.
There is muddle in the middle of the conference this season and with a few key wins, the Garnet may just find themselves in the postseason. “Our main focus is defense,” Bodur said. “When we defend well, we win. But when our team defense isn’t as good, neither are the results.” The Garnet are going to have to continue to buckle down defensively in order to push for a top-five spot, which would land them in the postseason.

“I don’t think anyone in the conference would have expected our team to be a playoff threat,” Costello said. “Our success early on is really making teams take us seriously.” Indeed, if this balanced team approach continues to bring success to the Garnet, the first-years may just get stuck with revising their skits to create the postseason editions.

The Garnet looks to capitalize on three upcoming conference games in order to clinch a playoff berth. Wins against Washington (3-3 CC), Ursinus (2-5 CC) and Haverford (1-6 CC) could thrust Swarthmore into a comfortable slot amongst the top rungs of the conference leader board.