Feb 13, 2013
Kara Poirier only made two baskets all night Wednesday against Bethel. But her timing proved to be impeccable. Her second basket of the night was a three-pointer with .1 on the clock to lift the Hamline women's basketball team to a dramatic 74-71 win over the Royals and a berth in the MIAC tournament.
The Pipers (13-10, 13-7 MIAC) will play on Tuesday, February 19 at either St. Mary's, St. Thomas or St. Benedict.
There were heroes aplenty as Hamline qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2009.
Jordan Sammons scored 29 points -- the most by a Piper in two years -- and added 11 rebounds to headline the Piper offense. Steph Pilgrim had 19 points (13 in the second half) and Je'Naya Brown added a dozen markers of her own.
The Royals, led by 6-2 freshman Rachel Parupsky (who scored 24 points) were tenacious all night. The Pipers used two big runs to open up a first half only to see BU come back each time to trail just 32-29 at halftime.
Bethel got out of the gate faster in the second half to forge a six-point lead at 51-45. HU responded with a 12-4 run to go back up 57-55.
BU hit a three-point play to make it 58-57 and Poirier answered with her first hoop of the night, a 30+footer.
And so it went back and forth.
In the final minute, BU was leading 69-68 when Pilgrim drilled a three-pointer from the corner. Undaunted, Bethel came back and tied the game for the ninth -- and final time -- at 71 with 18 seconds left. That set up the final play that ended with Poirier, one of three seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony, nailing a jumper from just beyond the arc, sending Hutton Arena into delirium.
Hamline will finish the regular season Saturday at Carleton. They are currently in 6th place,a game behind Gustavus. If they stay 6th, they will play at the third place team's gym. If they advance to 5th, they will be at the 4th place finisher. Going into the final games of the season, St. Mary's and St. Thomas are tied for second and St. Benedict is fourth.
The Pipers (13-10, 13-7 MIAC) will play on Tuesday, February 19 at either St. Mary's, St. Thomas or St. Benedict.
There were heroes aplenty as Hamline qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2009.
Jordan Sammons scored 29 points -- the most by a Piper in two years -- and added 11 rebounds to headline the Piper offense. Steph Pilgrim had 19 points (13 in the second half) and Je'Naya Brown added a dozen markers of her own.
The Royals, led by 6-2 freshman Rachel Parupsky (who scored 24 points) were tenacious all night. The Pipers used two big runs to open up a first half only to see BU come back each time to trail just 32-29 at halftime.
Bethel got out of the gate faster in the second half to forge a six-point lead at 51-45. HU responded with a 12-4 run to go back up 57-55.
BU hit a three-point play to make it 58-57 and Poirier answered with her first hoop of the night, a 30+footer.
And so it went back and forth.
In the final minute, BU was leading 69-68 when Pilgrim drilled a three-pointer from the corner. Undaunted, Bethel came back and tied the game for the ninth -- and final time -- at 71 with 18 seconds left. That set up the final play that ended with Poirier, one of three seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony, nailing a jumper from just beyond the arc, sending Hutton Arena into delirium.
Hamline will finish the regular season Saturday at Carleton. They are currently in 6th place,a game behind Gustavus. If they stay 6th, they will play at the third place team's gym. If they advance to 5th, they will be at the 4th place finisher. Going into the final games of the season, St. Mary's and St. Thomas are tied for second and St. Benedict is fourth.