It was a rare moment on the bench for Danielle Fitzpatrick '04. The star of the women's basketball team was resting in the second half watching her teammates cruise in the final regular season game of her career. As teammate Jayne Wise '04 drove baseline, absorbed contact and still completed a three point play, Fitzpatrick jumped up in jubilation, face covered with a wide smile. It was a characteristic moment of one of the best seasons the women's basketball team has had.
In her regular season finale, Fitzpatrick scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead five Judges in double figures in a 90-71 blowout of visiting New York University on Saturday. Wise added 13 points and four assists as the Judges led the UAA conference-champion Violets by as many as 35 points. Christine Clancy '06 scored 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Emily Malkin '05 and Caitlin Malcolm '07 scored 14 and 10 points respectively.
The Judges shot just 39.2 percent from the field, but forced 19 turnovers and crushed NYU on the glass, 53-38.
"We knew if we kept controlling the boards and controlling the ball, that would be the difference," Coach Carol Simon said.
The game was tied early in the first half until ten unanswered points by the Judges opened up the game. Brandeis opened the second half with a 13-3 run and the rest of the game played out as a celebration for the seniors playing their final game. With three minutes remaining, Wise left the floor to a standing ovation. A minute later, Simon called a timeout and Fitzpatrick left the court to the same applause. It was an excellent close to the season after losing two in a row for the first time all year a week before on the road.
"The difference with this team is they really like each other," Simon said. "The bottom line is they care if we're playing well and if we win. People ask us what the magic potion has been this year, but we're running the same system. We just have great personalities."
"We put the emphasis on defense," Wise said. "After last weekend, we really wanted to bounce back."
The Judges close out their regular season with a 19-5 record, including 10-4 in the UAA. The ten wins set the school record for conference wins in a season. Highlights of the season included Fitzpatrick surpassing 1,000 points for her career, a seven game winning streak and a win over third-ranked University of Rochester. But more than anything, the season was defined by the team's camaraderie.
"Everyone's really supportive, everyone's really positive," Wise said. "Everyone really wants everyone else to do well and we want each other to succeed."
"It's a good feeling to be taken out and see your team keep up the intensity," Fitzpatrick said.
While it is unlikely that Brandeis will be given a bid to the NCAA tournament, the win over NYU gave the Judges the top seed in the East Coast Athletic College tournament. NYU had already clinched the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, but with two wins this season against NYU including Saturday's drubbing, the Judges have earned home court advantage throughout the ECAC tournament.
The Judges will open the ECAC tournament tomorrow by hosting Albertus Magnus (16-9).
"We want to go out strong," Fitzpatrick said. "We want to win the whole thing. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we feel we can win this.