Page 140 - YB1990

Alley-Oop We were really close to making it, so close that we froze and stopped on the way there. The playoffs were indeed within reach, but we first had to win a tie-game against Johns Hop- kins for the second place in the Conference. After that, it was the MAC's and possibly - maximal honor - an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Such ambitions were not foolish: our excellent record both last year (21-5) and this year (18-5) is evidence of our abilities to get there. As Coach Becky Martin was often putting it, as if she was trying to convince us, we were "a group with a lot of talent." We just did not believe it hard enough. We lacked a little bit of genuine energy and enthusi- asm and did not show the confidence experienced players should have. We lost against Johns Hopkins. It was the last game for four seniors, Barb Wolf, who, during the season broke scoring and rebounding records at WMC, Caitlin Monroe, Car- rie Alwine, and me. Itwas also when I realized the fragility of a game outcome. When a score can go one way or the other, when teams are so close, there is something that can make the differ- ence, something indefinable that we call "chemistry." It did not quite happen that night. We aU know what we had in our hands and we know what we missed. That is also what basket- ball is, a school of life. I spent two great years playing basketball at WMC with a group of very special and good friends who helped me under- stand American basketball. When they went to France over Jan. Term to visit my country, I felt very flattered. I wish the team a good next season. New players will come, years will go by, and these two years will be forgotten. But we will always remember them as the time we almost made it. - Claire The-