"The 1993-1994 Recap"
LADY COUGARS WIN FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
written by Dave Parsons, Assistant Sports Information Director
The Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's basketball team capped off a record year by winning the 1994 National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on March 3-5. This was the Lady Cougars' first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
Coming off an 8-16 season the year before, MVNC was picked to finish seventh in the highly-competitive Mid-Ohio Conference in the preseason coaches' poll. However, the Lady Cougars surprised everyone but themselves by posting a 7-7 conference record and finishing in fifth place.
In addition to their success in the MOC, MVNC posted a 16-3 record against non-conference opponents. They won the Siena Heights (MI) College Tip-off Tournament and the Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College Lady Raider Classic behind solid team performances.
The Lady Cougars finished the regular season strong by defeating the first and second place teams in the MOC. First, they traveled to Shawnee State University where they knocked off the second place Lady Bears 69-60. Seniors Lori Brown and Eve Webber each scored 21 points, while junior Cher Frost added 10 points. Next, MVNC upset the University of Rio Grande, ranked 15th in NAIA Division I, 85-72 behind a career-high 22 points from sophomore Jodi Webb and 21 points by Webber. Brown and sophomore Monique Maher added 16 and 11 points respectively.
Next, the Lady Cougars traveled to Tiffin University for the first round of the MOC tournament. Tiffin defeated MVNC 64-56 to knock the Lady Cougars out of the tournament. In that game, Webb led the team with 14 points, while Brown chipped in with 12 points. Webber and Maher finished with 11 points each.
The next game for the Lady Cougars was in the NCCAA District I semi-finals against Roberts Wesleyan. MVNC routed the Lady Raiders 74-54 to advance to the District I finals. Webber led the Lady Cougars with 22 points, while Maher tossed in 12 points. At the 17:50 mark in the first half, Brown hit a three-pointer to become the fifth player in MVNC women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 point mark in career scoring.
In the NCCAA District I finals at Malone College, MVNC defeated the Lady Pioneers 73-69 in a hard-fought game. Brown led the Lady Cougars with a career-high 28 points, including 12-of-12 shooting from the free throw line. Frost and Maher added 15 and 14 points respectively, while Webber finished with 12 points. This win gave the Lady Cougars an automatic berth in the NCCAA national tournament and also broke the school record for most wins in a season (20).
In the first round of the national tournament, MVNC faced Northwestern College from Minnesota. The Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Eagles 63-56 behind senior Mandy Jamboski's career-high 15 points. Frost added 12 points, and Maher and Brown contributed 10 points apiece. Sophomore Melissa Greenick chipped in with six points on two key three-pointers.
In the semi-finals, the Lady Cougars met Bartlesville Wesleyan (OK) College and their All-American, Robbie McElroy. Behind tough defense and great free throw shooting, MVNC prevailed 84-72 despite McElroy's 36 points. Webber led the team with 22 points, while Frost added 21 points. Brown and Maher finished with 15 and 13 points respectively.
The championship game featured an all-Nazarene college match-up between MVNC and Mid-America Nazarene (KS) College. The two teams played an evenly-matched game, but the Lady Cougars came out on top 69-63 to claim their first national championship. MVNC was led by Webb's 21 points and Frost's 19 points. Brown added 11 points in her final game, and Maher finished with 10 points.
The Lady Cougars (23-10) finished the year with new season records for most wins (23), points scored (2433), rebounds (1189), free throws attempted (507), free throws made (345), field goals attempted (2069), field goals made (902), three-pointers attempted (736), three-pointers made (274), assists (599), and steals (331).
Individually, several players also set new school records. Webber established a new high for points in a season with 457. She also became the all-time leader in three-pointers attempted (358) and three-pointers made (129), while setting the record for three-pointers attempted (208) and made (84) in a season. Brown became the all-time leader in steals with 222, while Frost set a new record for field goals made in a season with 179. Frost also set a single-game record by scoring 33 points against Urbana University. Finally, Maher eclipsed the previous record for free throws attempted and made in a season by making 95 of 130.
Several players received recognition for their outstanding performances throughout the season. Webber was named to the MOC Second Team, while Brown and Frost received honorable mention. Webber was also named to the MOC All-Division II First Team, while Brown and Frost once again received honorable mention. Frost was named to NCCAA All-American Second Team, while Maher was named to the NCCAA All-National Tournament Team. Coach Jeana Howald was tabbed as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year.
The loss of Brown, Webber, and Jamboski will leave a large hole in the Lady Cougars' line-up, but with quality returning players and several good recruits, MVNC will look to defend their national title during the 1994-95 season.
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