For the sixteenth time in the last 17 years, Southern Maine women participated in the NCAA Div. III basketball tournaments, as well as brought home the Little East Conference Tournament Championship trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
“We play our best ball at tournament time,” said coach Gary Fifield. “We try to play well every night. One bad night and the season is over.”
Was last Wednesday night in Gorham playing against Emmanuel College a “bad night?” The loss did not seem very promising as a way to convince one otherwise, but looking closer at the game, it becomes more apparent that it was not a bad night, but a tough night.
Through most of the game the score was tied or very close, often with the Huskies in the lead. Jaime Zahm, senior forward, led game scoring with 17, and game rebounds with 16, more than twice as many as any Emmanuel Saint.
The effort exhibited in this game was not singular, however. The heart on the court Wednesday night won the Little East Championships. The character of this team left in its wake a 23-2 record in the regular season.
“This team has had to deal with adversity. They have shown a lot of character,” explained Fifield. “People have been stepping up when they’ve needed to, playing when they haven’t felt well. Playing through pain.”
For the past two years Southern Maine has had a stretch of bad luck with injuries. From a stress fracture in the foot to a season-ending sprain, the team has been short handed almost all season. However, as Fifield said, the team has overcome this adversity and excelled.
“I am pleased with what we set out to accomplish,” Fifield said. “We set goals and achieved them.”