Bowdoin Edges Bates for 2003 Women's Basketball Championship

Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

Box Score

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team defeated Bates College in NESCAC Championship Game on Sunday, 70-67. The Polar Bears (24-2) gain the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament that comes with being the conference champion. Bowdoin received a first-round bye and will host a second-round contest on Saturday, March 8. The eighth-ranked Polar Bears will meet the winner of the Emmanuel-Salve Regina game to be played Wednesday, March 5.

Lauren Dubois, red-hot after her semifinal performance against Wesleyan, scored two buckets to open the contest for Bates, and Olivia Zurek followed up with a layup to give the Bobcats an early 6-2 lead. Bowdoin clawed back with 7-0 run on a running jumper by Lauren Withey, a turn-around by Kristi Royer and a three-point bomb by Lora Trenkle to take a 9-6 lead at the 14:09 mark. Bates regained the lead briefly at 11:50 on a jumper from the elbow by Heather Taylor, but Bowdoin took the lead back the next time down the court on an off-balance hoop and harm by Lindsay Bramwell, who converted the foul shot to give the Polar Bears the lead at 12-10. Unlikely as it seemed at the time, that would be the last lead change of the game.

Bates came within one point at 9:16 when Dubois buried a pair of free-throws to make it 15-14 Bowdoin, but the Polar Bears would proceed to go on a 10-0 run, keyed by three consecutive baskets by Alison Smith to take a 25-14 edge with 5:41 left in the half. The Polar Bears would extend the lead to as many as 13 points before a late Bates run made it 39-30 at the half.

Bowdoin came out in the second period looking for the knockout punch and seemed poised to strike after jumping out on a 7-2 run out of the gate. At 9:11 of the second, a three-pointer from the baseline by Royer gave the Polar Bears a 14-point edge. But the Bobcats refused to go away and when Lauren Dubois hit a back-door lay-up at 6:04, Bates had closed to 63-53 and started their run.

A jump shot by Carla Flaherty was followed up by baskets from Annie Whiting and Dubois to cut the Polar Bear lead to 63-49 at 3:30. After Olivia Zurek came up with a steal, she drove down the lane and picked up a layup to make it 63-61 at 3:02.

A short 5-0 spurt by Bowdoin on a three-point play by Bramwell and a bucket by Royer increased the lead to 68-61, but Bates answered again with a basket and foul from Zurek and a clutch three-pointer from Dubois to close the lead to 68-67 with just over 35 seconds remaining. After a foul by Zurek, Royer hit two free-throws to give the Polar Bears a 70-67 lead with just six seconds left. A desperation three by Dubois missed high and Bowdoin claimed their third straight title.

Royer ended with 18 points and six rebounds, while Trenkle added 14 points, nine boards, six assists and three steals. Bates was led by a game-high 22 from Dubois. Olivia Zurek ended with 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats.

Bowdoin has won 25 straight home games dating back to February 10, 2001. The Polar Bears defeated Bates twice earlier this season, on January 21, 66-48 and 66-61 on February 8.

2003 NESCAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals - Saturday, Feb. 22 at Higher Seeds
at No. 1 Bowdoin 88, No. 8 Trinity 53
at No. 2 Wesleyan 71, No. 7 Middlebury 53
at No. 3 Bates 80, No. 6 Tufts 59
No. 5 Williams 59, at No. 4 Colby 56

Semifinals - Saturday, March 1 at Bowdoin
at No. 1 Bowdoin 57, No. 5 Williams 46
No. 3 Bates 82, vs. No. 2 Wesleyan 52

Championship - Sunday, March 2
at No. 1 Bowdoin 70, No. 3 Bates 67