Unranked all season, predicted to finish third in their conference, injuries and family emergencies were some of the obstacles the Point Park women’s basketball team dealt with, but in the end it was all worth the frustrations as the team has clinched its second straight trip to the national tournament.
Here’s how it happened:
The Pioneers went 2-1 in their final three games of the season but even the loss turned into a victory as it was against non-conference West Virginia Tech and on that same day conference foe Asbury lost to Indiana University Southeast. This meant that Point Park won the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title and thus clinched the top seed for the conference tournament.
KIAC Quarterfinals: PPU 54 Carlow 44
The Pioneer offense continued to struggle and it was up to the defense to rise to the occasion. The offense made just 16 shots from the field all game and were paced by Ja’Nia McPhatter and her 14 points. Emily Schartner had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“We have all of the open looks,” Katresa Savisky said. “We just can’t knock them down, and I think it’s really at the point where it’s a mental thing now, and we just have to get over it.”
With Point Park up two points late in the game and the Carlow crowd becoming a factor, it was Savisky’s shot clock beating two that gave her team the confidence in the final minutes to pull out the win.
The victory set up a clash against IU Southeast in New Albany, Indiana. Despite being the top seed, the right to host both the semi-finals and finals of the tournament were already guaranteed to the Grenadiers for both men’s and women’s basketball prior to the start of the season. It would have to be another obstacle for the Pioneers to overcome, and they traveled the six plus hours by bus. The last time the two teams played in Indiana, the game went to two overtimes.
KIAC Semi-finals: PPU 76 IU Southeast 51
Despite an overwhelming majority of IU Southeast fans, the Pioneers were able to pull away to win.
The first half was a struggle as the Pioneers continued to be a streaky team. They led by eight, and appeared to control the pace of the game, but the Grenadiers were the four-time defending KIAC Tournament champions for a reason and many of the key whistles were called against Point Park.
The Pioneers got a spark though when Teresa Davis made a two just beating the buzzer in the process. After high fives and a ‘let’s go’ to pump up her team, the deficit was just 37-36 after 20 minutes.
“It put the momentum back into our hands going into the half,” Davis said. “There are times when our team needs moments of spark, and that was a perfect instance. We came out pumped and ready to play after that.”
The second half was not even close as the Grenadiers were held to just 14 points. The Pioneers defense led by Davis held IU Southeast’s leading scorer Heather Wheat who averaged nearly 21 points per game to just four.
In addition the struggling offense made 50 percent of their shots from the field and all of a sudden smiles that had been missing for weeks were back on the court.
“Anytime you as a team accomplish something you’ve been talking about and putting so much time and effort into, that moment when it happens is always special,” Savisky said.
The floodgates started to open when April Austin drilled a three to open the lead up to 45-37. The Grenadiers used a timeout but it was too late, the momentum was already established.
While IU Southeast limped to the finish, the Pioneers flourished. Austin led the team with 23 points, while McPhatter had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Schartner made it three players in double figures with 13 points while Savisky had eight points and 12 rebounds.
The win placed Point Park in the finals where they met Asbury. Asbury won its semi-final against Alice Lloyd by a single point.
KIAC Finals: PPU 67 Asbury 58
In a game of runs, it was Point Park that had the last laugh, clinching their second straight national tournament berth.
“I can’t describe how happy I am for these girls,” Assistant Coach Ryenn Micaletti said. “This group has worked harder and given so much this year. It meant the world to me to see how happy they were.”
The Pioneers once again controlled the pace of play early, however Asbury’s press would confuse the Point Park and make it a game once again. Point Park had no answer for Trenia Barbee, the second leading scorer in the KIAC who in the first half already had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Still the Pioneers led 27-23 and three players, Schartner, Davis and McPhatter combined for all but two of the Point Park points.
The second half continued the runs but Point Park continued their struggle of putting Asbury away. The free throw line was their best friend and worst enemy. The Pioneers did a great job of getting to the line, shooting 32 times but making just 19 of the shots. In addition, Barbee continued to carve through the defense finishing with 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Savisky was a key in the second half making several gritty baskets scoring 12 points in the half.
Despite the trouble with free throws, Point Park made them in the final minutes and got to cut down the nets for a second year in a row. McPhatter’s 20 points and 11 rebounds paced her team.
For freshman Alexa Xenakis, the win meant a lot to her.
“I came from a team that never won championships,” Xenakis said. “To be on a team that wins championships just feels great. I didn’t want to lose and I don’t want the seniors to go. Without the seniors next year, it’s obviously going to be different.”
NAIA Tournament
The 25-6 Pioneers drew a No. 8 seed and will face No. 1 ranked [and No. 4 overall] Indiana Wesleyan in the first round.
“They play a slower pace than we do,” Micaletti said. “They’re a good team, but I think we can take advantage and make them play our style.”
There was some disappointment expressed with the ranking. The Pioneers moved up one spot in the final poll to No. 28 overall. They earned an automatic spot since they won their conference tournament, which was a good break for them because the at-large bids went up to only No. 27 and Point Park would have been the first team out. Still, the team did feel miffed.
“It’s disrespectful, we won our tournament, we have a phenomenal record and we got no love in the polls or seeding,” Maeve Gallagher said. “This is just another smack in the face to add to the list. Obviously it does not bring us down, if anything it’s putting a fire under us.”
Still the Pioneers are driven and perhaps the seeding is a blessing in disguise as the Pioneers can once again embrace the role of being the underdog.
“Who cares,” Savisky said. “So we’ve got the number one seed. They’re beatable and honestly I think it will be a great matchup. The biggest thing is not beating ourselves. We’ve just got to do what we do no matter who we play.”
The game will be played 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the Tyson Events Center at Sioux City, Iowa.
“We’re very excited to just get out there and experience the excitement of the tournament, but we’re not settling with just experience,” Savisky said. “This year we’re looking to make a run.”
Notebook:
The Point Park men’s basketball team finished the season as the fifth seed in the KIAC Tournament and lost an 87-70 game to Cincinnati Christian, a team they defeated in both regular season games.
The Pioneers trailed 40-34 at halftime but could not keep up offensively. Freshman Matt Noszka was lost early in the game due to an ankle injury and Josh Pohlot filled in and had 12 points but it was not enough.
The loss marks the end of an era for T.J. Heatherington, Asa Braxton, Jimmy Taylor, Babatunde Samoye and Blair Jones.
Heatherington ranks sixth in school history with 1,594 career points and second with 479 career assists despite missing almost half of his sophomore season due to injury.
The men averaged 93.2 points per game this season, a program record.
Photo Credits: PPU
