RADNOR, Pa. – University of Scranton women's basketball coach Mike Strong etched his name alone at the top of the NCAA Division III women's basketball record book, and it happened in the most unexpected fashion.
Strong's Lady Royals snuck past Cabrini College, 46-43, giving Strong his 758th career victory, putting him alone among all NCAA Division III women's coaches. But he wasn't on the bench to see it happen
Strong was ejected from the game when he picked up a pair of technical fouls in succession just before the midway point of the second half. It was the first ejection of his 32-year career, coming in his 921st game as head coach of the Lady Royals.
"I should probably say I did it on purpose, but I didn't," Strong said after the game. "I slipped. Both technicals were deserved. The good news is that it emotionally charged us and we finished. We did what we were trying to do all season, which is play basketball."
The victory moves Strong past former St. John Fisher head coach Phil Kahler, who retired in 2008 with 757 career victories. He now has a career record of 758-163, a winning percentage of .823.
The win also came against Cabrini third-year head coach Kate (Pierangeli) Pearson, who was a two-time all-American for the Lady Royals under Strong in 2003 and 2004.
"It's bittersweet for us to get it in these circumstances against Coach Kate," Strong said. "Neither of us wanted to play under these circumstances. We didn't talk to each other all week. When (the technicals) happened, I forgot who was coaching on the other side and just started coaching the game."
The game featured plenty of drama beyond Strong's ejection. Neither team led by more than five and Cabrini had possession with a chance to force overtime with a 3-pointer, but the Scranton defense held in the closing seconds.
Junior forward Erin Boggan (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) led Scranton with 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, freshman guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) had 10 points, five rebounds, three blocks and three steals, and junior forward Tayler Pallotta (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) added eight points and 11 rebounds in the win.
Scranton improved to 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the Landmark Conference, but Strong's 758 wins were all anyone wanted to talk about after the game.
"I'm very humbled and very proud. We're fortunate that we have so many Philly-area alumni that if we were not going to get it in Scranton that it could happen here," Strong said. "This achievement is for all the players, assistant coaches and staff. It's a celebration of all of us."
The Lady Royals forced 22 turnovers and blocked eight shots in the win, but were outrebounded for the first time this season, 49-40. Scranton is now 9-0 all-time against Cabrini.
Cabrini (5-4, 4-0 CSAC) was led by 13 points off the bench from sophomore guard MaryKate McCann (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and 11 points from fellow sophomore guard Brittany Sandone (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton).
The Lady Royals will travel to Puerto Rico to face Alvernia on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.
--LADY ROYALS--