BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS - Despite 26 points from junior Kristin Richardson (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda HS) and 17 from senior Caitlin Elsass (Batavia, Ohio/Clermont HS), the Capital women's basketball team was upended by #5 Washington University, 77-72 in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship
Capital (22-6) trailed 40-33 at halftime and by 10 in the second half before rallying to tie the score at 58 on a Richardson layup with 7:09 left in the game. An 8-2 Wash. U. run over the next three minutes proved to be too much for the Crusaders to overcome.
"This team played with heart all year, and they played with passion throughout the entire game," head coach Dixie Jeffers said. "We played from behind for most of the game, but never gave up and kept it close until the end. Unfortunately for us, we just never got over the hump to pull ahead."
Richardson's 13 points at halftime helped Capital keep the deficit at seven at intermission. A big reason for Capital falling behind at halftime was the fact that Wash. U. out rebounded the Crusaders 21-11 in the game's first 20 minutes. Capital also permitted the Bears to hit 14-of-16 free throws, while the Crusaders only hit five free throws on eight attempts.
"Rebounding and slowing down the tempo of the game was what I emphasized at halftime," Jeffers said. "We closed the rebounding gap in the second half and dictated most of the tempo, but again, we just could never sustain a run and pull away."
Richardson played most of the second half despite suffering a bruise just above her right eye after fighting for a rebound in the half's opening minutes. After a brief stint in the locker room receiving treatment, the junior returned to score 13 more points and a trio of three-point shots to keep Capital within striking distance throughout the second half.
"She played with so much courage tonight. She found her hot spots on the floor and just delivered," Jeffers said. "Grit and determination summed up her game tonight."
Capital last push came when they trailed 69-62 with 3:13 left. An Elsass basket, five consecutive points by senior Heather McAlpin (Cincinnati, Ohio/ Colerain HS) and a free throw by sophomore Tara Harper (Dresden, Ohio/Tri-Valley HS) cut the deficit to 71-69 with 33 seconds left. That was as close as the Crusaders would get, however, as 6-for-6 free throw shooting down the stretch by Wash. U. closed out the game.
Capital was able to win the rebounding edge in the second half at 17-13, but could not overcome the Bears' 28-for-32 free throw shooting (87.5 percent). Capital found the charity stripe only 18 times, connecting on 13 shots.
After playing only five minutes in the first half due to picking up two quick fouls, senior Daniele Sanna (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North HS) scored eight points and tallied seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action. McAlpin, playing in her final game in the purple and white, scored 11 points and recorded four rebounds. Elsass scored 11 points in the second half to go with her nine rebounds for the game.
"This team played with pride all season, loved played with other, and played with great enthusiasm all year," Jeffers said. "We only lose one player for sure for next season, and if we can get a few more pieces to the puzzle and if everyone improves over the spring and summer, we can come back even stronger next year. But this was a great season and one that I'll remember for a long time"