March 23, 2007

Florida Gulf Coast Survives Clayton State to Reach Title Game

Freshmen Hits Big Shot to Keep Eagles Unbeaten

      Kearney, Neb. –  The second National Semifinal game of the 2007 Division II Women’s Elite pitted Florida Gulf Coast versus Clayton State (Ga.). 

      The top-ranked FGCU Eagles (34-0) zoomed out to a 22-2 lead, then fell behind in the second half, but got a key shot from freshmen sensation Steffi Sorensen to survive the Lakers, 61-57.

      Clayton, from the South Atlantic Region, ends the year at 29-6.

      The game was played at the Health & Sports Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

      Early on, it appeared as though FGCU, from the South Region, would deliver a repeat performance of their National Quarterfinal win over North Dakota. The Eagles made eight of their first 10 shots to grab a 20 point lead seven minutes into the contest. 

      Senior All-American Katie Schrader led FGCU in the first half by going 8 of 11 from the field to score 16 of her team's 36 points. 

      Sorensen also contributed offensively by going 3 of 8 from the floor to have nine points at intermission.  FGCU "cooled" off to be at 53 percent (15 of 28) shooting over the first 20 minutes.

      Clayton State’s full court pressing defense and rebounding helped them be down only 36-22 at halftime. Making only 25 percent of its shots in the first half (9 of 25), the Lakers did have a 13-4 edge in offensive rebounds.  

      The second half was a much different story for FGCU as the Eagles continued to be hampered by Clayton's press and their ability to go inside for easy baskets.  The Lakers opened the second half on a 17-4 run to trail by just one, 40-39, by the 15:54 mark.

      “We started off the game great, and they just got tougher and kept coming at us, got rhythm and controlled the game on the boards and got us off sync offensively,” said FGCU Head Coach Karl Smesko.

      When reserve Kim Lloyd hit a three pointer with 13:19 left on the clock, Clayton had its first lead of the game, 42-40.

      The teams continued to alternate leads the rest of the way with FGCU regaining the lead, 50-49, thanks to a three from Ashley Haegele. On the play, CSU center Lynnette Jackson was down on the ground due to a knee injury. Thus, the Lakers -- with four players -- couldn't cover a wide open Haegele.

      While Jackson would return, CSU struggled on offense in the next three minutes but managed to trail by just two, 53-51, after Roberta Phillips hit a shot at the 4:01 mark.

      FGCU seemed to be in trouble when Schrader, diving four a loose ball, fouled out with 2:22 to play. Marie St. Forte hit the subsequent free throws and the was game tied at 55.

      The Eagles finally began to close the gap on the glass down the stretch and the play of the game happened when Sorensen managed to tip a missed three from Alex Nelson to Haegele. Sorensen then got the ball right back from Haegele and hit a three to give FGCU a 58-55 lead at the 1:52 mark.

      Clayton missed a shot and had a turnover in the next minute and a half and the Eagles went 3 of 4 at the line in the closing seconds to secure the win.

      Gulf Coast made just 28 percent (7 of 25) of its shots in the second half but three of the buckets came from behind the arc. The Eagles, with 18 turnovers on the night, did have nine offensive rebounds in the second half.

      Despite warming up in the second half, Clayton shot just 34 percent (21 of 62) on the night. The Lakers' 19 offensive rebounds led to only 15 second chance points.

      Coming off the bench, St. Fort led CSU with 16 points on 5 of 10 shooting. She also had five rebounds and three steals. Phillips (13) was the only other Laker to reach double figures.

            "It was special group of kids that accomplished some things that perhaps people thought more than they should.  They always believed in themselves,” said Clayton State Head Coach Dennis Cox.

      Schrader (25) had another stellar effort in the Elite 8 as she was 10 of 17 from the field. Sorenson (14) was the other Eagle in double digits with three reserves combing for 20 points.

      FGCU advances to the national championship game where they will take on Southern Connecticut State.  The game will take place at 5:00 p.m. CST this Saturday at Health and Sports Center.  The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.