“I think it’s huge for this program,” Green said of reaching the championship game. “It is about them, it is about this team. We changed coaches in September. Even though I knew them (as a former assistant), it is different. We changed offenses. We had some bad times early on but we came together.”
“That confidence needs to be built during the year,” said UD senior center Saicha Grant-Allen, who had 13 points and nine rebounds.
That also happened Saturday as the Flyers responded to a lackluster start that drew the ire of Green.
UD (21-9), the No. 1 seed this year after finishing eighth last season, trailed by 11 early in the second quarter after allowing the Billikens to make five of their first six shots from 3-point range. But the Flyers stormed back and led by four at halftime.
Jenna Burdette, who fouled out late, had 13 points and four assists for UD, while Alex Harris had 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.
“I tried to grab every rebound I could,” Harris said. “We started to toughen up our defense” after Saint Louis star Jackie Kemph had 16 points in the first half.
UD senior Kelley Austria added 10 points and three assists, reserve Lauren Cannatelli added seven points and five assists and reserve post player Andrijana Cvitkovic had nine points in nine minutes and made all three of her 3-point attempts.
Burdette hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to make it 46-37 in the third quarter. Seconds later Harris scored for UD to push the cushion to 48-37, forcing Saint Louis to call time.
“That was huge,” Green said of the shot by Burdette. “I didn’t even know the shot clock was winding down. She had the presence of mind to put that up.”
The No. 4 seed Billikens (24-8) trimmed the margin to 70-65 in the closing minutes but Burdette, Cannatelli, Austria, JaVonna Layfield and Harris hit free throws to seal the victory. Kemph, the conference player of the year, had 27 points and six assists but standout Sadie Stipanovich was held to six points on one of 10 shots from the field.
“Defense is our game,” Harris said.
The Billikens missed 11 of 12 long-range shots at one point and ended up nine of 28 from 3-point land.
UD won the battle of the boards 45-34 and won despite 18 turnovers and shooting 14 of 24 from the foul line.
The Flyers trailed 23-12 early in the second quarter before taking the lead at 25-23 on a layup by Burdette with 5:20 left in the first half. The lead changed hands eight times in the first half.
UD led 37-33 at halftime despite Kemph, who entered averaging 14.7 points and 7.5 assists per contest.
“I thought it was a great basketball game,” Green said. “It was back and forth. We made plays when we had to.”
The Flyers have won 18 of their last 21.
“It is a credit to the players. They believe in the process,” Green said. “Look at the balance. We don’t have one star.”
TODAY’S GAME
No. 1 Dayton vs. No. 7 Duquesne, noon, ESPNU
About the Author