By Mark Simon
D3hoops.com
The Rochester women return to the Final Four for the second consecutive season a year later and a year wiser.
“We know what we’re going to face now,” said coach Jim Scheible. “We know the approach you need to be successful there.”
Rochester returned four starters from last year’s team, which finished fourth after losses to Trinity (Texas) and UW-Eau Claire. The Yellowjackets were the new kids on the block, in an unfamiliar situation. The experience they gained from those defeats could make a significant difference in this run at a championship. The buzzwords we hear from speaking to their coach and players are “more focused,” “more mature” and “more leadership.”
Illustrative of how far Rochester has come was that the Yellowjackets won their last two games away from their usual comfort spot, the Louis Alexander Palestra, where they had won 33 games in a row, including the two that propelled them into the Final Four last season. First they rallied from nine points down in the Sweet 16 to beat UAA rival NYU. Then, they took it to Elite Eight host Marymount from the start, and hung on to win 61-57.
Mental and physical strength was the biggest key to the team’s success. Rochester maintained its composure and stood its ground in crucial circumstances, something the team had been building to all season. That was the payoff for the intense practice sessions, and a schedule built to include more road games.
“We’re more disciplined then we were then,” said junior forward Kelly Wescott (12.6 points per game), who got a nice confidence boost at the end of last season with a 26 point, 16 rebound effort in the ultra-intense consolation game loss to Eau Claire. “We’re able to calm ourselves down more. We trust that we’ll be able to work things out.”
Leaders have emerged when Rochester has faced difficult situations, such as a three-game late-season losing streak on the road that left the Yellowjackets hoping for a Pool C bid for the second consecutive season. Senior guard Erika Smith, carried the team with 19 consecutive points in the final six minutes in the second-round win over Cortland State. Senior backcourt mate Tara Carrozza showed the way during tough stretches against NYU and Marymount, averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 assists, and was named sectional MVP.
“Tara and Erika are both playing the best basketball of their careers right now,” Scheible said. “They’re such great leaders. When we’re struggling, they put the team on their back and say ‘This is how it’s going to get done.’ ”
Marymount coach Bill Finney commented after the Elite Eight that his team hadn’t faced an opponent with as much strength as Rochester. The Yellowjackets might not be the tallest team in Virginia Beach, but they might be the toughest. That comes from weight room work and tough practices.
“I think our practices are an integral part of our success,” Carrozza said. “We try to simulate the intensity of a game within our practices, which isn’t always easy.”
Rochester was ready to make a postseason run, after one of the most tightly contested regular seasons in UAA history. Three teams qualified for the NCAAs and the fourth place squad, Brandeis, beat first-place NYU twice, and won the ECAC Northeast Region tournament by defeating last year’s national runner up Eastern Connecticut State. The top four teams in the league all won at least 22 games and had a combined mark of 42-2 in non-conference regular season games.
There was a brief celebration after beating Marymount, but it was slightly more subdued then last season. When you make a return trip after a season, it’s a different feeling and one that the Yellowjackets find to their liking. They are ready for what awaits them.
“Our expectations are different this year,” Carrozza said. “We know how focused and mentally tough you have to be at this level. This team has really grown.”