After falling to rival UW-Stevens Point in the WIAC championship game Sunday, the women’s basketball team will regain their focus on their next task at hand: Mount Union.
The ’Hawks found out Monday they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and face No. 18 University of Mount Union (D3hoops.com) at 4 p.m. CST Friday, in Crestview Hills, Ky.
“We are focusing on this as a whole new season,” head coach Keri Carollo said. “It doesn’t really matter what teams have done previously because once we get to this point, everybody is pretty much on a level playing field and we’re going to have to start fresh.”
Despite entering the tournament with a loss, the ’Hawks are ready to make a run in the NCAA tournament, which starts with knocking off the Purple Raiders.
“I think overall a big challenge is all the hype in the tournament,” senior forward Melissa Olsen said. “It’s important that we focus on us and stick to our game plan because obviously we don’t know much about them, and they don’t know much about us.”
What the team does know is that the Purple Raiders are very similar to the ’Hawks in that they like to press and play a fast-paced game.
“They play a lot like us and they are an up tempo, pressing team,” Carollo said. “Offensively for us we’re definitely going to have to get it inside to Dana [Thompson]. Defensively, being able to sit down and defend their dribble penetration will be key.”
Defensively, freshman Kaitlyn Thill has anchored the ’Hawks. She broke the single-season record for steals, recording 109 this season.
Another aspect the ’Hawks will have to prepare for is the three-guard lineup the Purple Raiders present.
Composed of junior guard Kori Wiedt (12.4 points per game), sophomore guard Rosa Lamattina (11.6 ppg, 3.5 assists per game) and senior guard Katie Crider (41 percent from three-point), the Purple Raiders provide a talented trio that can provide problems for teams.
If the ’Hawks defeat Mount Union, they will most likely face No. 1 Thomas Moore College (D3hoops.com) in the regional final round at 6 p.m. CST Saturday, barring an upset by Piedmont College (20-8).
“Anything’s possible,” Olsen said. “Yeah, some teams might be better than us but we just have to play better basketball than them for 40 minutes and put it all out there.”
