As the Lady Rams enter the postseason, they do so as a favorite to win the Conference Championship. Following a disappointing 69-61 loss at the hands of the Millersville Lady Marauders. Coach Deidra Kane and company do not have long to wait to exact revenge on the Lady Marauders, as MU visits Hollinger Field House Tuesday night for a first round playoff game.
As is the case in any playoff game, there are key matchups to keep an eye on come Tuesday evening.
Coaching: Coach Kane has been a mainstay on the Lady Ram bench for 20 seasons and has amassed a 304-227. Perhaps more dominating is the fact that Kane possesses a .648 winning percentage in the conference. Millersville counters with Mary Fleig, who is in the midst of her sixteenth season. In her last seven years, Fleig has won 20 games in six, and clinched NCAA Division II tournament berths in five.
Advantage: Push.
Experience: While the Lady Rams are a feel good story, with ten newcomers in the lineup, including eight freshman. In the playoffs, the speed of the game picks up exponentially. Every mistake is mangified, every posession holds more meaning as the game progresses. How these Rams handle the initial push from the more experienced Lady Marauders will go a long way. Millersville employs two starters in the starting lineup, and a total of three juniors on the roster. Dominique Lewis is the only senior Lady Ram.
Advantage: Millersville.
Intangibles: The Lady Rams. as the second seed will host the PSAC tournament, with a win over Millersville on Tuesday. This season, WCU is 9-4 overall at home, and 6-0 in conference play.
Advantage: West Chester
It is obvious that the Lady Rams have the talent to march through the conference bracket. This club has come together througout the course of the season, and are peaking at just the right time. It all begins Tuesday, and with a win, WCU will be two victories shy of its ultimate goal: a PSAC Championship.
Matt Lombardo hosts a weekly sports talk radio show on saturdays from 12:00-2:00 PM on 91.7 WCUR, and can be heard online at www.wcur.fm