By Andrew Lovell
D3sports.com

A decorated senior class at Amherst will graduate with at least one national title and a 50-game winning streak to its credit. But the Jeffs hope to make it two and 52. Amherst athletics photos

G.P. Gromacki knew Caroline Stedman would be a great player. But even he admits she's exceeded all reasonable expectations.

One All-American honor (and no doubt, soon a second), two NESCAC Player of the Year awards, two Northeast Player of the Year awards, four Final Four berths, one Final Four MVP and one national championship will do that sort of thing. And that's just the resume to date.

"She handles the ball, she shoots, she plays defense [and] she's probably one of the fastest players in the country," Gromacki said. "She can play at a different level. She raises her game to where her opponents can't really stay with her. ... The shots she makes are pretty difficult. They're very much like D-I shots."

Stedman, the biggest name in Amherst's decorated six-player senior class, has again helped lead the Lord Jeffs to the Final Four. If you're keeping count, that is a fourth appearance in the last four seasons.

But the senior sextet's list of accomplishments includes so much more. Since the class arrived in Amherst, Mass., in 2008, the Lord Jeffs have compiled a 124-6 overall record, which includes a 76-1 home record and a 36-1 NESCAC record. On top of the four Final Fours, the team has collected three NESCAC titles and carries a 50-game winning streak into Friday's game against George Fox.

G.P. Gromacki has won wherever he's been in Division III, having never won fewer than 20 games in a season. He's won 151 games in five seasons at Amherst.

And though he'll never point it out, Gromacki (314-47, .870) has now become the all-time coaching leader in winning percentage among all college basketball coaches, men's or women's, Divisions I, II or III.

Yet the numbers don't seem to phase Stedman, Gromacki or anyone associated with the Amherst women's basketball team. It's simply par for the course. The team sets the bar higher each season and yet, has no trouble clearing it.

"They're just tremendous competitors that hate to lose," Gromacki said of his group of seniors. "... They enjoy playing the game and get along well with each other. They all bring something to the table."

Along with Stedman, a dynamic guard and the only Amherst player to ever win two NESCAC Player of the Year awards, forward Lem Atanga McCormick, guard Kim Fiorentino, guard Shannon Finucane, forward Jackie Renner and forward Livia Rizzo all contribute unique skill sets to the team.

The 6-foot-tall McCormick, who is tied for the team lead in blocks, brings a solid presence down low. At 5-9, the versatile Fiorentino plays bigger than her size. Fiorentino is second on the team in rebounding (6.2), but also leads the team in assists and is third in scoring.

Renner, who scored 11 points in Amherst's win over Emmanuel in last weekend's NCAA quarterfinals, is playing her best basketball of the season, according to Gromacki. Finucane, the team leader in steals, doubles as one of the team's top three-point shooters. Rizzo plays sparingly, but her experience leadership are valuable commodities.

The Lord Jeffs have six players averaging at least six points per game. That balance was on display in the win over Emmanuel, in which four starters reached double figures and junior guard Marcia Voigt added nine points off the bench.

"All season long we've had different people be high scorers in many different games, and I think that's one of our strengths -- our balanced scoring," Gromacki said. "... Marcia Voigt has really come on at the end of the year. That's been a big plus for us. It just gives us one more weapon."

Freshman Megan Robertson (11.4 points per game, 7.7 rebounds) has also been a force this season. Collectively, Amherst boasts one of the most complete, versatile and talented 10-player rotations in the country.

That's crucial considering Amherst faces the other remaining undefeated Division III team -- George Fox (31-0) -- in the semifinals Friday. The Bruins' senior class, led by the school's all-time leading scorer and D3hoops.com West Region Player of the Year Keisha Gordon, carries a record (116-9) that rivals that of Amherst's class.

"Any team that's left standing right now is a very good team," Gromacki said.

Both Amherst and George Fox feature smothering defenses. The Lord Jeffs rank third in country in points per game allowed (46) and first in the country in opponents' field goal percentage (29.3). The Bruins won their first and only title in 2008-09, a feeling the Lord Jeffs' had last season. Now Amherst is two wins away from repeating as champions.

"We finally won one [last season] and this is our first time defending one, so I'm not really sure what's tougher," Gromacki said. "We'll only find out."

Amherst hasn't lost since Jan. 11, 2011. That's a long time. Long enough, even, that freshmen like Robertson have yet to experience a loss at the collegiate level.

Of course, if they've been paying attention to Stedman, McCormick and the rest of the seniors, they surely know by now that losing just isn't something that happens at Amherst.

"Very few players ever get to realize one Final Four, and they've been going ever since their freshman year," Gromacki said. "It's a testament to them and the players we've brought in, them helping them along. It's just hard to believe we've pulled that off. But we have a team that works hard and they don't back down from anything really. ...

"It definitely means a lot, but I think it'll mean a lot more 10 years down the road, when you kind of look back and say, 'Wow, we really did that.'"