Last season the Mount Aloysius womens’ basketball team went to the summit, but was denied the championship after having the game seemingly in its grasp. On Saturday night in Auburn, Maine, the Lady Mounties got a second chance to knock off the same opponent. This time, Mount Aloysius refused to allow the crown they had fought for since last year, slip away. With the score tied, Altoona product Ginger Fanelli, sank a three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining and added a pair of free throws later and the Mounties held on for a 67-64 victory over Apprentice College, that gave Mount Aloysius the USCAA national championship.
The three Amigos, who have led Mount Aloysius over the past four seasons literally from the cellar to the heights appropriately also led the squad in the championship game against Apprentice College from Newport News. Recruited by coach Dave Adams together from Blair County, Fanelli poured in a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Jess Armstrong, from Claysburg, added 15 points and six rebounds and Randi Baker, from Bellwood-Antis, added 13 points in their final game.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Baker in response to winning the national title. “But it’s so thrilling. It’s a great way to end the season. We went out with a bang! We had it last year, but we just didn’t finish. I don’t know what happened, but we three seniors were bound and determined this year. We knew we wanted it really bad and we got it.”
Mount Aloysius completed a three-game sweep in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) playoffs. The Lady Mounties defeated the CM Lady Mustangs 69-60 with Baker sinking six of eight free throws with her team up by just one point in the final minute of the contest. Then the Mount turned a one-point halftime lead into an 81-66 rout over Davenport University with Jess Armstrong grabbing an offensive rebound and connecting on a three-point shot at the buzzer to end the first half and started off the second half with another trey and Mount Aloysius never looked back.
In the finals against Apprentice, the Lady Mounties were determined not to allow the championship to slip away again. They defeated two-time defending champion Apprentice after knocking off the Lady Builders twice during the regular season.
Sophomore Missy Wertz (Bellwood-Antis) was part of the 11-women rotation that helped out with key contributions in practice and on the floor. A deadly accurate mid-range shooter, Missy is strong in the post and will be looked on next year to provide rebounding and inside scoring.
“It’s awesome,” said Wertz. “Whether it’s someone who played very little or played a lot, we all did everything we could to get to the finals and everyone had a big contribution in some way. We all practiced hard all year and did everything we could.”
Baker, known as a terror on the boards, is the Lady Mountie all-time leading rebounder and holds the single game school record with 27, against Wilmington College. She has been an instrumental leader on the basketball team over the last four years and has also used her talents on the volleyball court, with a USCAA All-American selection this past season.
“I can’t begin to describe the feeling that we felt when that buzzer went off and Jess Armstrong dove for the ball,” said Mount Aloysius womens’ coach Dave Adams. “I told the three seniors they had to lead this team down the stretch this year and all three of them played a great three games this week. Everyone of our players contributed, either in the tournament or during the year in practice. This is a great group of 11 tenacious, gutsy, great, lovable kids. I’m so proud of them and my assistant coaches. If you never get to that (winning the national championship), you never feel it, but now we have it and I am proud of them. They are the national champions.”
Mount Aloysius finished their regular season 18-4, including 9-1 at home. Fanelli led the team with 503 points, an average of 22.9 per game, and 162 rebounds for an average of 7.4 per contest. Baker averaged 12.4 points per game (273 overall) and 5.18 rebounds (114 overall) second in both categories.
Coach Adams remembered the key in the Lady Mounties first playoff game. “Randi Baker pulled down this incredible rebound near the end of the game with us leading by just one point and they fouled her. She went to the line three more times down the stretch and made six of eight foul shots to give us some room to breathe. If you don’t get by that first game, you don’t get any further. Missy Wertz played great all week coming off the bench.”
The girls made the long trip back from Auburn by bus, arriving in Cresson at Mount Aloysius, around 8:15 on Sunday night and were greeted by a group of about 50 friends, parents and well-wishers.
“We had about two and a half minutes to go and lost a close game,” recounted Mount Aloysius Athletic Director Tim Kelley of last year’s loss to Apprentice in the finals. “It was remarkable to see where we came from this year and where we went. From the beginning, this team set it’s goal at returning and winning the championship. They did not stumble, or lose focus. That is a great tribute to them and the coaches. It was the unity and determination that brought them together to become a great team.
I have been here four years. The first year, I went down to a game in Altoona to meet the incoming freshmen (Fanelli, Baker and Armstrong) coach Adams had assembled. I thought they were real nice players and all. But, I had no idea of the impact they would have on this campus. I am so very proud of our seniors and the standards they have set in both athletics and in the classroom. They have laid the groundwork and foundation and if the rest of the girls on this team strive to follow, we will have continued success.”
