SEATTLE, Wash. – As the sixth seed, the Chico State women’s basketball team was definitely the Cinderella of the NCAA Championship Tournament West Region final against the No. 1 seed, Seattle Pacific. Despite the fact that the host Falcons had won 13 in a row entering Monday’s contest, the Wildcats had won 15 of their last 17, averaged over 82 points in their two West Region victories, and liked their chances of pulling off the upset. But the glass slipper the ’Cats had hoped to wear to the ultimate dance – the Elite Eight – was smashed at Royal Brougham Pavilion, as Seattle Pacific won the West Region title and ended Chico State’s 2009-10 season with a 76-68 victory.
The Wildcats, hoping to avenge a 19-point loss to Falcons earlier in the season, finish with a 23-10 record, while Seattle Pacific heads to St. Joseph, Missouri to participate in the Elite Eight with a 27-3 season mark.
Wildcat Head Coach Brian Fogel was disappointed but upbeat after the game. “You saw the heart and soul of our team tonight,” Fogel told a group of reporters following the eight-point loss. “The Falcons’ press bothered us a bit; it slowed us down and didn’t allow us to run like we wanted. Seattle Pacific will represent the West well in the Elite Eight, but I’m proud of the way we’ve grown as a group. We were 8-7 two months ago and on a three-game losing streak…to turn it around and make it all the way to the Regional finals tells you how special this team is.”
Fogel was even more adamant in his praise of Wildcat Natasha Smith, who scored 12 points and dished off eight assists Monday and was named to the West Region All-Tournament team. “’Tash is the ultimate competitor,” Fogel said. “In over 20 years of coaching, I’ve never seen a kid play harder and longer. In fact, the more we’re down, the harder she plays, and you rarely see that in a player. I’m proud of her for all she’s done for this team, and it’s an honor to coach her.”
Courtney Harrison is surrounded by Seattle Pacific players as she drives to the bucket Monday night.
Monday’s West Regional title game started tentatively. It took over two minutes for either team to break the ice, but after Chico State went up 2-1 – as it would turn out, the Wildcats’ only lead of the contest – Seattle Pacific used a 6-0 run to take an early 7-2 lead. A Melissa Richardson 3-pointer and a reverse layup by Synchro Bull quickly pulled the Wildcats to within 9-7. Seattle Pacific still led 17-15 when the Falcons used three baskets by Megan Hoisington, a jumper by Caitlyn Rohrbach and 3-pointers by Jordan Harazin and Nyesha Sims to key a 14-3 run to extend its advantage to 31-18. The Falcons defense was holding Chico State to one shot nearly every time down the court, and was up 38-22 with three minutes left in the period when the ’Cats finished the half on an 11-2 run, highlighted by a trio of Courtney Harrison 3-pointers, and Seattle Pacific had to be content with a 40-33 lead at intermission.
The Wildcats carried the momentum into the second half, scoring the first seven points to tie the game at 40-all – Pauline Ferrall drained a pair of short-range jumpers and Synchro Bull added a layup and free throw to fuel the run. Seattle Pacific, which had been controlling the boards all night, came roaring back with second and third chance baskets on the offensive end, scoring 16 of the next 18 points to go back in front 56-42 with 11 minutes left.
All-Tournament selection Natasha Smith finished with 12 points and eight assists.
Could the Wildcats mount their third second half comeback in three nights? A Vest layup and a Taylor Lydon 3-point cut the deficit to nine, but Seattle Pacific answered with five straight points to push the Falcons’ lead to 61-47. Chico State continued to attack the basket – Smith banked home a mid-range jumper and fed Richardson for a 3-pointer, while Lydon knocked down a trey and a layup to help pull Chico State to within 65-57 with just under four minutes to play. But with the clock working against them, the Wildcats were forced to foul to get the ball back, and could never mount a serious 11th-hour run, and the Falcons officially put an end to Chico State’s 2009-10 season with the 76-68 win.
Richardson, playing her final game for Chico State, led the Wildcats with 15 points – her three 3-pointers on the night gave Melissa 174 for her ’Cats career. In addition to Smith’s 12 points, Harrison also finished in double figures with 11 points. Seattle Pacific, which outrebounded Chico State 49-30 on the night, was paced by Jordan Harazin’s 17 points; Tournament MVP Melissa Reich posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Falcons will face Central Region winner Fort Lewis (Col.) next Tuesday at Western Missouri State University in Elite Eight quarterfinal action.
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