Saratoga is, by all reliable accounts, accurate in his description of the Lady Royals' commits for next year. The list is long and strong. It is indeed an exceptional incoming class!

So, here is a scary thought: when one considers the addition of these highly-touted newcomers--several of whom will be ready to make a substantive impact straight out of the gate--and if one also remembers that the team will return, not merely one, but two All-Americans along with the  D3 Hoops Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year--the Lady Royals figure to be both deeper and stronger than last season's 30-1 team, if it is possible to conceive that.

As Saratoga says, the team just keeps loading up.

The D3 Hoops All-American selections are out, and congrats to the Lady Royals once again.

Getting one of your players onto an All-American list is a huge point of pride; getting TWO on the list is enough to make you cry.  Only number one Thomas More joined the Lady Royals in receiving two All-American nods.

All hail Sarah and Alexix!

As a Scranton fan, I just wanted to congratulate Tufts on an outstanding performance. To come into the raucous confines of the Long Center and perform the way the Jumbos did was truly special. It was a privilege to watch two quality teams employ every ounce of their energy as they battled each other.

In my humble opinion, Micheala North may have earned All-American simply because of the tremendous first-half defense she played against Alexix Roman. IMPRESSIVE!  Alexix still did some damage, but she was held down way below her normal output. Indeed what a great overall defensive team Tufts is!  They cut off passing lanes; pressured the ball with mind-boggling intensity; and held the Lady Royals to 48 points on their home court. Most teams only dream about doing something like that.

I wish the Jumbos luck as they try to finally push all the way through the Final Four this time.

Congratulations to Lady Royal seniors Noelle and Jackie; you led your team to some plateaus that no Lady
Royal team had ever achieved before--in particular, a 16-0 conference record, a 30-0 start to season. And it was all done with class and respect for the game.

Kudos to the entire team--30-1 and an Elite 8 Berth is top-of-the-charts play. You distinguished yourselves as one of the best teams in the country.

Maine1 and Saratoga,

I know the Lady Royals have tremendous respect for Tufts and are putting lots of thought into how they would able to counter the tremendous personnel Tufts puts on the court. The formidable Jumbos have without doubt established themselves as a national-class force in the last several seasons; they are well-coached, and they are talented. There should be a good turnout for this one.

By the way, I think that last night's crowd--coupled with the quality of play the fans saw--points out that Division 3 Women's basketball has to be one of the most under-rated entertainment values in sports. 

Saratoga,

Yes, Trevor Woodruff is a coaching artist--and I think he would agree that the senior leadership of Ms. Gantz and Ms. Alicea has also helped develop this team's singular bond.

As you say, it is all a thing of beauty! These Lady Royals are one of the best "all-for-one and one-for-all" sports teams I have ever seen; they would happily surrender half their hindquarters for each other--and an empathy like that is even more beautiful than a Sarah Payonk back-door pass.

Ronk,

You and I were both right. The Lady Royals were ready for Catholic; and Coach Donahuedid reduce the scoring punch of Alexix Roman with some wicked double-teams. Donahue is an excellent coach and he has a fine team.

I must now say, however, that any University of Scranton sports fan who is not proud of this Lady Royals' team needs to have his or her mental wiring checked. Catholic came out of the gate at a furious pace; and played at a level that would have plowed under a lot of teams. The U of S kids were simply superlative in the second half.

Alexix is held down a bit, so Noelle racks up 20 points, Payonk pours in mid-range the jumpers, and Mann registers 17.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a TEAM; and one with a chemistry the likes of which the Long Center has probably not really seen before--yes, Scranton has developed teams with great chemistry in the past--but what we are seeing here is almost something uncanny, if not unprecedented, with respect to "team bond" and cohesive affection among  a family of athletes.

At the end of today's game, both coach and players shed copious tears--not just because of the win--but because they knew how special this entire enterprise has been. Certainly, the Lady Royals are very talented, and they do have a great young coach--and Scranton should receive Landmark COY, POY, and ROY honors and all of that--but the big factor in their remarkable success finally struck me today (and I must have been numb not to sense it before); the truth is simply this: teams that love, respect,  and care for each other thismuch are flat out hard to beat.[i/i]

On Saturday, Catholic will be heading to Scranton to try to re-live last season and steal yet another championship at the Long Center. Lady Royals are going to be ready this year. Oh, Boy! Get your tickets early.

Congrats to the Lady Royals on finishing the regular season undefeated. They accomplished this special feat by posting a statement win against a team that had lost just once at home this season.

Scranton certainly looked like a nationally-ranked team, shooting well over 60 percent. The Lady Royals seemed poised to launch a post-season crusade. Hope that fans turnout for Wednesday's game--the team has earned some love!

Mann again showed why she is the clear ROY. Roman was in top form; Alicea drained "dagger in your gut" threes.

Payonk for President!

Yes, Saratoga. And here is what I think may make this season "historic" in yet another way: it is pretty easy to imagine Landmark player of the year, rookie of the year, and coach of the year all going to Scranton, especially if the Lady Royals beat Catholic today--Sarah Payonk deserves POY for more than the apparent reasons; Ms. Triple-Double is as well-balanced in the components of her human character as she is on the stat sheet--she has also stepped up and become a great floor leader, and she is a presidential scholar to boot. An exceptional kid in an exceptional program.

And it seems that there would have to be a federal investigation if Mann is not ROY and Woodruff not COY (wonderful acronym).

Swish asks an interesting question, and I anxiously await Ronk's reply.

I do believe that the truly elite D3 programs put a lot of effort into recruiting lower end D1 and D2-type players, and as a quick review of the rosters of these teams show, they land a fair number of these kids. You cannot win a D3 national championship without having some D1-level players on your team.   

It's sad, but Saratoga is right. The Lady Royals will have to bring another level of play with them to Washington D.C. this weekend. The team's talent is evident, but focus does not seem to be there at the time of year when focus is most important.

I am sure that the team does not want to carry a perfect record all the way through the schedule only to lose it in the last regular season game. We will see how they come out against Catholic.

On the upside, Katie Feehery brought some game off the bench, 6 points, 5 rebounds, a couple of blocks in thirteen minutes of action--I like what this young women brings to the court.

Here's hoping the team regains its form against the Cardinals; they are better than Catholic but will need to be ready to play with intensity.

Yes, indeed-- a 20-0 record is outstanding at any level (and represents as everyone has been saying good coaching, good players, and good team cohesion). Here is the absolutely phenomenal thing about the Lady Royals remarkable tradition; this year's nationally-ranked, highly-celebrated team still needs a couple more victories to post an average win total for this program---by the way,  I have no doubt whatsoever that this team will record those victories and more.

Moravian made a real game of it against our Lady Royals; but that was not that much of surprise; Mary Beth Spirk gets her teams ready.

Roman and Payonk were huge again--but let's give it up for Noelle Alicea who swished four clutch free throws in overtime to seal the deal; that was big time play from a senior.

This game was a test for the Lady Royals, and they passed it.

Congrats to a feisty and talented Moravian side for responding every time--and I mean every time--the Lady Royals started to create just a little breathing room. Those were some "hungry hounds" down there in Bethlehem tonight; and they certainly won my respect even if they did not win the game. If Moravian continues to play like they did tonight, they will win out through the remainder of the regular-season schedule. They are an impressive team!

San Juan,

Those rough edges are getting smoother, aren't they?  The team is on a roll--but as the old adage goes:"you are either getting better (i.e., smoothing) or getting worse", so let's not turn off the  "smoothing machine" just yet.

But you gotta love this Lady Royals team!  An excellent win tonight against a very good Moravian side, especially considering the fact that Ms. Basketball rode the bench most of the first half due to early foul trouble. She still nearly posted a double-double.

Like many teams, Moravian had no answer whatsoever for Roman, and whenever they doubled her, Mann would go on a rampage.

Payonk, Roman, and Mann are the best starting threesome in the league--and Alicea and Gantz can also really play. Noelle took it to the hoop very effectively and Jackie hit some clutch shots and she rebounds the dickens out of the ball for a guard. So when I speak of rough edges, I am only trying to keep some perspective; as the wise Saratoga says: when you think "you are just about perfect" a large does of reality suddenly appears.

Moravian is very talented; McPherson is one heck of a darn player!!! Nevertheless,  all is well in Lady Royal land tonight.