By Drew Moody
Special for the Hur Herald
The University of California-San Diego defeated them 71-61 in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight, but...Rachel Redick, her three senior teammates, and the rest of the
Glenville State College Lady Pioneer Basketball team certainly have nothing to be ashamed of.
Rachel Redick won most, if not every honor she was considered for during her basketball career. And, she consistently did it with such style and intensity, she gained national recognition even though in the mountain foothills of very rural Glenville, WV.
She led the team to unprecedented success and raised the bar of excellence significantly, relative to anyone soon surpassing her or the team's records this season.
You might think of her like the "Michael Jordan of West Virginia Women's Basketball," and in many ways she was.
One obvious difference - Rachel has never dunked a basketball.
(Photos by Drew Moody)
(L) Rachel Redick crosses into the paint shooting a trademark
off-balance jumper that usually drops for two. She finished the night and her career as a Lady Pioneer with 18 points, four assists
and three rebounds (R) Mallory Menendez appears dwarfed by the coverage of UC San Diego's inside players. Still, she manages a
shot from near the key. Though playing under 10 minutes she scored six points and nabbed two rebounds.
The Lady Pioneers wrap up the season with a 34-3 record.
The were ranked number one in NCAA East Region Division II for nearly two months, as well as No. 2 nationally for several
weeks.
The team was declared regular season WVIAC champions
prior to the end of the season because they'd notched so many
victories no one could equal their record.
In Charleston they handily won the WVIAC Conference Championship.
The following week the Lady Pioneers captured the NCAA East Region Division II Championship in Glenville.
Redick, Melanie Oliver, Casey Taylor and Karina Kendrick were individually honored for their play during those games. Oliver came to Glenville a very shy freshman, but in a matter of a few months honed her skills to become one of West Virginia's top players.
Christy Alltop, Casey Taylor, and Lauren Strong were at the top of their game and several times equalled or exceeded Redick's game numbers. As a result Rachel didn't have all the pressure of a "win" directly on her shoulders at all times.
Strong and Kendrick had a more key defensive focus, but as the season went on, these young women really came into their own. They became increasingly comfortable taking a more active role in the Lady Pioneers' game offensively.
(L) Melanie Oliver fighting her way to the basket during the UC San Diego Game. She and Rachel Redick were the only Lady Pioneers who scored a field goal during the second half. The remainder of the points were from the charity line. (R) Lady Pioneers Assistant Basketball Coach Denny Fitzpatrick closely watches the game early in the second half
Any one of perhaps five other teamates might be "open" and
perfectly capable of stepping up and plugging the holes, or shooting a three-pointer, or taking a baseline drive to the hoop.
At times the women worked so well together you'd think they shared one mind.
And while the season seemed to end far too abruptly, with a very uncharacteristic loss to UC San Diego, that one game doesn't diminish the rest of the 2006-2007 season.
In looking back at Lady Pioneer history, it's easy to imagine fans are perhaps tempting to believe no team could repeat the successes these young women have earned.
Yet twice in five years they've been just "games" away from a national crown.
The team has a history of success and will adapt and adjust to life without one of the nation's best basketball players - Rachel Redick -- over time.
Redick has been mindful all season this was her final year as
a Lady Pioneer. And she's also been keenly aware the changes
to come and finding the next challenges in her life would be
a sometimes painful transition.
Perhaps what Redick and the team don't fully realize is how much fans will miss this team, particularly the seniors who have given so much to Glenville State College and the community.
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