Hoops Falls in Playoffs; Baxter Scores 1,500 points
A.J. Martelli
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Maverick Sports
Despite losing in the ECC quarterfinal playoff game, the lady Mavericks basketball team had a rewarding rebuilding season and is confident in its abilities for the upcoming years.
"I was satisfied with how the season played out," said coach Ashlee Kelly, who recently completed her third year as the women's basketball coach. "We won 10 games for the first time since 1996, and made the conference playoffs for the first time since 2001. We have a young team and a bright future."
As the seventh seed in the East Coast Conference, the lady Mavs fell to Dowling on March 4 by a score of 73-61. With the ladies down 38-23 at the half, Kelly and the team remained cool under the heat of the moment.
"We had the feeling of 'we've been here before.' Dowling is a very good team, and in the locker room during halftime of that game, we still felt we could compete, and come back to win."
The lady Mavericks did make a statement coming out of the half, cutting the lead to 45-40 with 13 minutes left on the clock. However, they lacked the extra push they needed, went on to be edged by their ECC rival, and were eliminated from the playoffs. Senior guard Christina Baxter led the game with 19 points scored and four assists, while sophomore forward Delmara Reece added nine points and four rebounds. Although taking the loss, Kelly sees competing in the post season as an achievement in itself.
"Making the playoffs was a victory for the girls and the program altogether," she said. "With hard work, heart, and desire, we are turning things around."
In 2006, Kelly inherited the basketball program, which owned a record of 2-75 the previous three seasons. Personally for Kelly, it was a good feeling to bring the squad back into a winning atmosphere.
"I discussed our prior seasons with the players, but we agreed not to talk so much about the past," she said. "There is a lot of mutual respect that comes with our team. The girls work hard for me, and in turn, I work hard for them."
"I was satisfied with how the season played out," said coach Ashlee Kelly, who recently completed her third year as the women's basketball coach. "We won 10 games for the first time since 1996, and made the conference playoffs for the first time since 2001. We have a young team and a bright future."
As the seventh seed in the East Coast Conference, the lady Mavs fell to Dowling on March 4 by a score of 73-61. With the ladies down 38-23 at the half, Kelly and the team remained cool under the heat of the moment.
"We had the feeling of 'we've been here before.' Dowling is a very good team, and in the locker room during halftime of that game, we still felt we could compete, and come back to win."
The lady Mavericks did make a statement coming out of the half, cutting the lead to 45-40 with 13 minutes left on the clock. However, they lacked the extra push they needed, went on to be edged by their ECC rival, and were eliminated from the playoffs. Senior guard Christina Baxter led the game with 19 points scored and four assists, while sophomore forward Delmara Reece added nine points and four rebounds. Although taking the loss, Kelly sees competing in the post season as an achievement in itself.
"Making the playoffs was a victory for the girls and the program altogether," she said. "With hard work, heart, and desire, we are turning things around."
In 2006, Kelly inherited the basketball program, which owned a record of 2-75 the previous three seasons. Personally for Kelly, it was a good feeling to bring the squad back into a winning atmosphere.
"I discussed our prior seasons with the players, but we agreed not to talk so much about the past," she said. "There is a lot of mutual respect that comes with our team. The girls work hard for me, and in turn, I work hard for them."
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