Lady Royals reach Sweet Sixteen, set record
The Lady Royals, led by first-year EMU coach Richard McElwee, finished a memorable season by reaching the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III tournament.
The EMU women's basketball team finished the 2003-2004 season with a record of 25 and 4, an ODAC championship, and the distinction of being just the third team in ODAC history to advance to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Division III tournament. Though a loss to Hardin-Simmons at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, ended their season, the Lady Royals nonetheless set an all-time school record for most wins in a season.
After winning their first seven games of the season, the team's undefeated streak ended on Jan. 4 against ODAC foe Roanoke. Following the loss, the team rallied and went on a nine-game winning streak before their second loss of the season to rival Bridgewater College. A loss to Guilford three games later may have disheartened a weaker team, but the Royals went on to beat Guilford in the ODAC semi-finals and defeated Randolph-Macon by nine points to win the conference title.
The support of fans powered the team to victory in a number of close games throughout the season. According to Larry Martin, director of athletics at EMU, "Coach McElwee feels that a packed house is worth 10 points at home. Our fans are definitely 'the wind beneath their wings.'" That proved to be a key to the one-point win of Christopher Newport on March 6 that put the team into the "Sweet Sixteen."
After leading the EMU offense throughout much of the game, sophomore Laura Ludholtz scored the winning basket with just seconds left in the game. Ludholtz finished the game with 23 points, and Stephanie Mathews offered 12.
Sophomore Carrie Grandstaff said of the team, "...on the court, when one person was off, there was always someone else who would pick up the slack."
Amanda Renalds agreed as she commented on the Christopher Newport game. "After I missed that free throw, I was devastated, but we always said we have each other's back and Laura definitely had mine that night." Ludholtz's play secured a coveted spot in the Division III's "Sweet Sixteen" and left first-year collegiate coach Richard McElwee with "...a feeling of disbelief. It took a couple of seconds to realize we had actually won. Then I was so happy for my team."
Though the season ended on the road against Hardin-Simmons, the team finished with a feeling of accomplishment, having exceeded their goal of winning the ODAC. Grandstaff credits her teammates for the successful season, saying, "We have such good comradery on and off the court. That makes such a difference, we were all a team, no one was trying to out-do the other."
Renalds said, "We were very self-motivated to prove to people that EMU deserves to be recognized as a force in the ODAC in women's basketball."
McElwee felt that the season's success had everything to do with attitude. "We tried to be prepared for every situation and what could arise from that situation. It is my belief that everything that happens to you in life will not be good and how you react to the bad sometimes determines your success."
Renalds summed up the season, saying, "[Becoming] ODAC champs was our main goal and everything that followed was just icing on the cake. I feel blessed to have played with the girls on the team this year and I will always remember it."
Proving that heart and hard work can overcome anything, the Lady Royals have set a high standard for future EMU and ODAC teams. Their stint in the top sixteen teams of the NCAA's Division III will be memorable for the team and the EMU community.
Return to Sports
