Feb. 15, 2007

Women’s Basketball misses out on playoffs
Mattie Unger
ungerm@marietta.edu

With their final game of the season on Saturday, the Women’s Basketball team will unfortunately miss out on the tournament this year. It’s been a rocky journey for the Lady Pioneers this year, but the conclusion of this season should lead to a promising squad for 2008.

Whenever a team has a young group of players, they face many challenges. They are forced to look to underclass teammates for leadership. And the challenge to lead by example becomes more difficult when the player has had limited playing experience.

But within the next few years, these weaknesses will no longer exist. This year’s inexperienced team gave underclassmen the opportunity to earn playing time. Their promising skills will mature over the next couple of seasons, and the wins will outnumber the losses.

Junior Justine Pagenhardt always pushes her teammates. She has been the Pios’ scoring leader all season. Pagenhardt has 303 points and averages 13.2 points per game. And on February 3, she became the seventh Lady Pioneer to reach the 1,000 point club. Pagenhardt’s playing should inspire the underclassmen to push to be better players and teammates.

The sophomore class gained vital playing experience this season. Guard Amanda Carraher became an important player. She is tied with Pagenhardt for 3-point shots made. Carraher is also third in steals with 21 and fourth in total points.

Freshmen Jamie Beckett and Shawntae Cline proved to be dominant forces on the court. Beckett put serious minutes in, rarely coming out of the game. She has been the most reliable under the basket. So far, Beckett has earned 187 rebounds this season, leading the team in offensive and defensive rebounds. She is second in the team in scoring with 242 points.

Cline has been a solid player for Marietta. Her stats are consistent across the board. Of the freshmen guards in the OAC, Cline is the leader in rebounds. Her playing should be a key in the development the women’s basketball program.

Without any doubt, the Pioneers are displeased with the number of wins this season. But as every season ends, the focus will turn to the future. With promising underclassmen, the Lady Pioneers will look to have more successful seasons in the coming years.

The final home Women’s Basketball game will by tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Fenton Court. The game will recognize lone senior, Katie Chadwell with the traditional Senior Day honor.