2005-2006 Season Wrap-Up

2004-05 Wrap-Up

Expectations were high this season for the Patriot ladies. After finishing last season at 21 st in the nation, UC started out the 2005-06 season at #16 in the preseason polls. By the second rating, they had fallen to #25 after what seemed like a slow start on the season. After going 3-2 in the first five games, the Patriot ladies lost three of the next six. However, after going to Hawaii over the Christmas Holiday break, things started looking up for UC. They won the next five games and moved back up to #19.

As Mid-South Conference play started the Patriot ladies won 9 of 11 and finished the regular season as MSC champions and #17 in the nation. In the conference tournament, UC received a first round bye and faced Lambuth in the second round, whom they easily defeated 95-77. The next opponent was Georgetown in the championship game. Although it was a close game, the Lady Tigers squeaked by with a three point victory 70-67.

Thanks to a successful regular season, the Patriot ladies received a bid to nationals and faced the Lady Bulldogs of Cumberland University. This game proved to be even closer than the MSC title game as UC won 68-67 to advance to the second round of the NAIA tournament. Unfortunately, in the second round, the Patriot ladies had to face Vanguard University (CA) who had been ranked #1 for the majority of the season and who were also undefeated. The Patriot ladies put up a good fight and only lost by six points 80-74.

In the end, the Patriot ladies finished up the season 21-9 and accumulated several individual honors. Senior, Tenille Cann ( Craigieburn, Australia) was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, NAIA Third Team All-American, as well as scoring her 1,000 th career point. Junior, Jennifer Nagy (Strongsville, OH) was named Mid-South Conference Player of the Week three times this season, and was named to the MSC All-Conference team and Academic All-Conference team, as well as being named to the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention team, and scoring her 1,000 th career point. Sophomore, Lissi Fuller ( Mt. Vernon, OH) was also named Mid-South Conference Player of the Week and named to the MSC All-Conference team. Kirsten Roberson ( Baton Rouge, LA) was named MSC All-Conference Honorable Mention.

With the loss of only one senior, look for the Patriot ladies to turn it up and make a repeat run at the NAIA National Championship.