A Playoff First
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - The Susquehanna University women's basketball team (16-8) will host defending Middle Atlantic Conference champion Allentown College (15-9) in a MAC quarterfinal Tuesday, February 23, at 7 p.m. Susquehanna was second in the MAC Commonwealth League, while Allentown was third in the Freedom League. This will be the first playoff meeting between these two teams, and just the third overall.
Susquehanna has had 11-straight winning seasons and will be making its 10th-straight MAC playoff appearance. Ticket prices for Tuesday's game will be $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $2 for students, and children under the age of six will be admitted for free.
In addition to clinching second in the league and a home court in their quarterfinal game, the Crusader women began the week ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region rankings, which ultimately determine the 48-team field for the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Each of Division III's eight regions are guaranteed six teams. The MAC champion will earn an automatic bid, but a team could also earn an at-large bid if it finishes in the top six of the final regional poll. Teams will be announced Sunday, February 28.
Susquehanna is hosting a MAC playoff game for the first time since 1996, and hasn't won in the playoffs since that 70-59 win over King's - dropping three-straight. Playing just its second year in the MAC, Allentown has won three-straight conference championships - two in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (1995-96, 96-97) and last season during its debut in the MAC. The Centaurs have gone 8-0 in conference tournaments during that run.
Scouting Susquehanna:
Senior power forward and two-time All-American Kristen Venne (Shillington/Governor Mifflin H.S.) leads Susquehanna and has been chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy as the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Year. The 5-9 Venne presently leads the team in both scoring (21.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg) - ranking third in the MAC and 13th in Division III in scoring, and fourth in the conference in rebounding. She is also second on the team and fourth in the MAC in field goal percentage (57.1%, 193 of 338). Venne is the team's Co-WQSU-FM Crusader Player of the Week as she averaged 25.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and shots from 69.0 percent from the field (20 of 29) and 91.7 percent from the line (11 of 12) in last week's two league wins. She has scored double figures in 38-straight games and 95 of 97 during her collegiate career. She is second in Susquehanna women's history in career scoring (1,859 points) and third in rebounding (859). At present, she ranks second in MAC modern history (since 1993-94) in career scoring average (19.1 ppg), third in both field goal percentage (54.3%) and rebounds (9.1 per game), and fifth in free throw percentage (76.3%).
Her 6-2 junior frontcourt mate Karyn Kern (Brodheadsville/Pleasant Valley H.S.) joins her as the team's co-player of the week as she averaged 22.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting an astounding 81.0 percent from the field (17 of 21) and 90.9 percent from the line (10 of 11). Kern continues to lead NCAA Division III in field goal percentage (69.0%, 158 of 229) and is almost sure to break the MAC single-season record (Current Record: 63.9%, Rebecca Baker, Wilkes, 1995-96, 175 of 274). Also the team leader in blocked shots (1.8 per game) and steals (2.2 per game) - ranking third in the MAC in blocks - she is second on the team and seventh in the conference in scoring (16.3 ppg), ranking second on the squad in rebounding (8.4 per game). Now with 35 career double-doubles in points and rebounds, she is fourth at Susquehanna in career rebounds (687) and sixth in scoring (1,195 points).
Senior small forward Sandy Jenkin (Millersville, Md./Severna Park H.S.) also had a hot hand in the team's 76-61 win at Juniata, hitting her first five shots from the field on her way to 14 points. Jenkin is third on the team in both scoring (8.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.2 per game).
Sophomore Susan Trella (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) is the team's floor general at point guard. Trella is the team leader and ranks sixth in the MAC in assists (4.5 per game). Not known for her scoring (2.2 ppg), she is also the team's top player at taking charges.
Fellow sophomore Jen Antolick (2.6 ppg) (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia H.S.) has been getting the start at two-guard and second on the team in three-pointers (12 of 31, 38.7%).
Junior Lisa Stack (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West H.S.) had been the starting off guard for the season's first 18 games before being sidelined with a thigh injury. She now comes off the bench, although she is still fourth on the team in scoring (6.0 ppg) and has the third most treys in a season at Susquehanna (18 of 45, 40.0%).
Versatile senior Karrah Henry (Lewistown/Lewistown H.S.) is normally the first player off the bench, usually at one of the wings. Capable of playing any position on the floor, Henry has started 26 games during her career, including four this season, and is fifth on the team in both scoring (4.4 ppg) and rebounding (2.7 per game).
Freshman Amy Harrington (4.3 ppg) (Danville/Danville H.S.) also spells Jenkin at small forward and is one of the team's better perimeter shooters inside the three-point arc. She had 11 points in the team's win last week vs. Albright. Harrington is also the team's top free throw shooter (89.3%, 25 of 28).
While his players have been gaining much of the attention, 12th-year Susquehanna head coach Mark Hribar is also nearing a significant milestone. The winningest coach in program history, he is now 198-102 (.660) and just two wins shy of becoming just the second coach to ever win 200 games at Susquehanna. The other one is current Susquehanna Director of Athletics Don Harnum, who guided the men's basketball team to a 201-153 record (.568) during his 13 seasons as head coach. Hribar's record includes three NCAA Tournament appearances, and being named MAC Northern Division Coach of the Year twice (1990-91, 91-92). He has guided his team to 11-straight winning seasons and 10-straight MAC playoff appearances - going 8-9 (.471) in playoff games.
Scouting Allentown:
Ninth-year head coach Fred Richter is now 150-87 (.633) and recently became the school's winningest basketball coach - breaking the record of 147 held by former women's coach Tom Shirley (1981-89). Richter's team's are known for their defense, and this is no exception as the Centaurs are fifth in the conference in field goal percentage defense (35.8%), and fifth in scoring defense (59.6 ppg).
Junior two guard Kate Corcoran is a returning starter from last season's championship team and smashed the school record for season three-point field goals made with 45 (out of 134, 33.6%). Also the team's scoring leader and the only player averaging in double figures (13.7 ppg), she is fifth in the conference in three-point field goals per game (1.96 per game) and ninth in percentage. She also leads the team in steals with 71 to rank fifth in the MAC in that category (3.1 per game).
Teaming with Corcoran in the Centaurs' three-guard attack is senior wing Kelly Cleighton. Tied for second on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg), she has also hit 24 three-pointers (of 106, 22.6%) this season.
Six-foot-one sophomore center Rachel Hartung is the team's leading rebounder (7.0 per game) and tied for second in scoring (8.8 ppg). She'll be relied heavily upon Tuesday in the team's battle with Susquehanna's returning All-Stars in Venne and Kern.
Junior Collette Mancuso (7.6 ppg) is the Centaur point guard and is second on the team in both assists (2.1 per game) and steals (2.2 per game). She also shoots it well from the foul line (79.5%, 62 of 78).
Five-foot-10 freshman Megan McCarthy (6.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) rounds out the Allentown starters and will have the unenviable position of matching up with senior All-American Venne.
She'll get help off the bench from a pair of 5-10 sophomore reserves in Nicole McQuilken (4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Jeanne Herbert (2.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg).
Five-foot senior Janelle Ganci (3.2 ppg) is the top backcourt reserve and shoots 83.3 percent from the free throw line (35 of 42).
Hribar on the Allentown Game:
"They (Allentown) play very good defense and really have some kids who can shoot it. They may have a tough time matching up with Venne and Kern inside, but we know we're going to have to play very well to win. We like the fact that we're playing at home."
Next Up:
The winner of Tuesday's game will meet the winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal featuring the Commonwealth League number four seed Lebanon Valley (14-9) at Freedom League champion Scranton (22-2) on Thursday. Scranton would host with a win, while Susquehanna would host if Scranton was upset. The Crusaders have lost 17-straight games to Scranton, including all 15 under Hribar - dropping a 72-51 decision in Selinsgrove on January 25. Susquehanna swept the two games with Lebanon Valley this season.
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