Blog Archives
Reality Sets In
The Lander Bearcats advanced to their first ever NCAA Elite Eight after downing Wingate in the Southeast Region Final. Unfortunately their season ended with a defeat to Rollins College. Senior Rachelle Rasley graciously volunteered to blog about the experience.
Rachelle Rasley
Rollins was a great team but we truly felt we were the better team. We had prepared as best we could but the ball just didn’t seem to bounce our way Tuesday night. Coach Pederson told us that it was disappointing that we couldn’t show everyone who doubted us what Lander was truly about. We played our hearts out but we all agreed we didn’t show the nation who we were and how we really played. We walked sulking to the locker room and we sat there in silence. I felt my heart sink. I looked around at all of my fellow teammates that I have had the privilege to play with over my last two years of college and the tears began to roll. I have never felt more part of a family than I have here at Lander. Each of these girls truly care about every player on this team.
My role in particular on this team was not the one who took the game winning shot or the one who set school records with points or steals. I was a vocal leader. I had an interesting perspective sitting the remainder of the season on the bench. With my background and view of the game I was able to help my teammates during games and was the one to pick them up during the roller coaster ride of runs during the games. I was always asked why I ran extra or got extra shots up if I didn’t really play. My response was that I have to perform at a high level to make the team better and push the starters. If they aren’t pushed in practice WE don’t get better as a TEAM. Yes there were times when I felt like giving up and not coming in to work out extra but I kept telling myself that win or lose, playing or sitting the bench, if my name was called, I would know deep inside that I had did everything in my power to make sure I was ready. That is something I want to reiterate to anyone out there reading this because as coach Pederson always says, “stay ready.”
My teammates always made me feel apart of the team no matter how much I played and emphasized that every puzzle piece to this team was needed for the ultimate goal of winning a championship. We never let anyone in our “wolf pack” lag behind. It was truly an honor to play for Lander University as well as Coach Pederson and Coach Shoemate. They have taught me lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. I honestly feel like I became a much better person transferring to the good old city of Greenwood, SC.
After a valiant effort Lander was edged by Rollins 66-62 to end their postseason run. Click here for a recap of the game and here for video highlights.
The Road to San Antonio
By Mia Antoine
Hello all!
I know I know, it’s been a while and there’s so much to catch up on! It feels like New Year’s was just celebrated and the calendars already read March. I can’t really believe how fast time flies. I guess it’s true, time flies when your having fun (and kept extremely busy).
Let’s see where do we start? Well how about with–my team won the Peach Belt Conference tournament! We are officially PBC Champs! Winning the championship game was so exciting and surreal and I’m sure that not one of my teammates, coaches, parents, and fans could have been happier in that moment. With a win this big, your body seems to forget all the hurt and pains from the game, and instead, explodes with joy and bursts with excitement. From all the adrenaline, you really have no control over your body, resulting in pictures like this…
And this…
And this…
Since we won the conference championship, the regional tournament is going to be hosted at USC Aiken, our school and in our gym, and once again we couldn’t be any happier. We have to win the next three games, which would win us the southeast regional championship and take us to the Elite Eight, which will be held in San Antonio this year. I don’t want to overlook the games that we have to win to even get to there, but you can’t help thinking of winning the whole thing and becoming national champs—after all this is what we’ve been working so hard to get.
Winning the conference tournament was an amazing and unforgettable experience, but it’s only a stepping-stone to reaching our ultimate goal. We can’t focus on that win anymore because we have much more to accomplish as a team. We have to leave what’s in the past in that past, lace up our shoes, and battle it out for a spot in the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and then bring home the title.
We will define ourselves. We won’t focus on the damages that a possible loss can cause, but we won’t forget the sting of its presence. We won’t anticipate the sensations of being champions, but we will demand them. We define ourselves and no one else is responsible.
Watch Mia and the rest of the USC Aiken Pacers Women’s Basketball squad in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship. Click here for more information and links to live webcasts of all the games and post game press conferences.
2012 PBC Basketball Championship Highlights
Action from all the games of the 2012 PBC Basketball Tournament, hosted by Columbus State University.
2012 Women in Athletics Seminar
Over 100 female student-athletes from 16 schools and three conferences gathered in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday for the fourth annual PBC Women in Athletics Seminar. The event is designed to give female student-athletes who may have an interest in pursuing a career in athletics the opportunity to interact with professional women from a wide range of athletic careers. The keynote address was given by Delise O’Meally, Director of Governance and International Affairs at the NCAA.
From left: Brinsley Thigpen, CEO, Augusta Sports Council; Jaclyn Donovan, Director of Athletics, Georgia Southwestern; Lauren Holtkamp, Basketball Official (WNBA, NBADL, NCAA DI & DII); Becky Burleigh, Head Soccer Coach, University of Florida
“This is just a tremendous event,” said PBC commissioner David R. Brunk. “We have grown this seminar every year and have our biggest turnout yet. Our panelists have been outstanding; they are committed to sharing their experiences of being a woman in the field of intercollegiate athletics and educating the next generation of coaches and administrators and we are very grateful for their time.”
From left: Germaine McAuley, Director of Phys. Ed. and Athletics, Spelman College; Amanda Osburne, Director of Internal operations, South Atlantic Conference; Dina Neely, Area Manager, Musco Sports Lighting; Heather Ould, Director of Operations, Collegiate Consulting
The seminar began with a professional panel featuring University of Florida head women’s soccer coach Becky Burleigh; Georgia Southwestern athletic director Jaclyn Kaylor; Spelman College athletic director Germain McAuley; WNBA and NCAA women’s basketball official Lauren Holtkamp; Amanda Osburne, director of internal operations for the South Atlantic Conference; Dina Neely of Musco Lighting; Brinsley Thigpen, CEO of the Augusta Sports Council and Heather Ould, director of operations for Collegiate Consulting.
Keynote speaker Delise O'Meally addresses participants.
“It’s all about that initial first step and how to start,” said Osburne, making her first panel appearance. “Student-athletes just need to know where to begin if they want to pursue a career in this field.”
The Peach Belt Conference welcomed schools from both the South Atlantic Conference and Conference Carolinas. Young Harris College, who will join the PBC in the fall of 2012, also brought several student-athletes. The turnout for the 2012 seminar was the largest since its inception four years ago. Augusta State University has served as the host for each seminar.
