Coach recalls playing in NCAA Final Four
Women's basketball made two tournament appearances
By Jay Brinson
Last Updated:6:30 PM EST 4/22/09 Section: Fisher through the years
Every November when the Lady Cardinals lace up their sneakers, hit the hardwood and tip off a new season, the main goal is to cut down the nets and hoist up the NCAA Division III National Championship trophy in March. It's been twice in the program's 34-year history that they've made it to the title game and had to watch their opponent do just that.
Any team that makes it to a title game, especially twice, is always made up of a special group of players and coaches. The teams of 88' and 90' were no exception.
"The chemistry on and off the court was key and every one played their role to their greatest potential each of those years. They all had fun doing it and no one was bigger than the team," said Marianne O'Connor Ermi, who was an assistant for the team during the Cardinals' championship appearances.
Under the reigns of founding coach, Phil Kahler, the 1987-88 Cardinals won an astounding 32 games that season. Their lone loss of the season came against the Concordia Cobbers of Moorhead, Minnesota, 65-57 in the national championship game.
"It was an enriching and memorable experience. There was and still is a wide range of happiness, disappointment and now as the head coach, I have the desire to get back there," said coach Ermi.
On route to their 1988 title game appearance the Lady Cardinals shredded longtime rival, Nazareth, in convincing fashion, blowing the Golden Flyers out by 28 points in the Regional Championship Round.
The St. John Fisher support all through the women's tournament run was astonishing as the team experienced things they've never been a part of.
"There was great support from the administration on down. We were given the keys to the city, honored by the mayor, and there were pep rallies before our away games during the tournament, " said coach Ermi.
The 1990 national championship game is the one that is much more unsettling for the Fisher basketball program.
After trailing most of the game, the Hope College Flying Dutch knocked of the Cardinals by hitting two free throws with no time left in regulation. The team from Holland, Michigan ended Fisher's remarkable season and kept them from hanging the honorary championship banner in Manning and Napier Varsity Gym, by handing them a 65-63 loss.
Any team that makes it to a title game, especially twice, is always made up of a special group of players and coaches. The teams of 88' and 90' were no exception.
"The chemistry on and off the court was key and every one played their role to their greatest potential each of those years. They all had fun doing it and no one was bigger than the team," said Marianne O'Connor Ermi, who was an assistant for the team during the Cardinals' championship appearances.
Under the reigns of founding coach, Phil Kahler, the 1987-88 Cardinals won an astounding 32 games that season. Their lone loss of the season came against the Concordia Cobbers of Moorhead, Minnesota, 65-57 in the national championship game.
"It was an enriching and memorable experience. There was and still is a wide range of happiness, disappointment and now as the head coach, I have the desire to get back there," said coach Ermi.
On route to their 1988 title game appearance the Lady Cardinals shredded longtime rival, Nazareth, in convincing fashion, blowing the Golden Flyers out by 28 points in the Regional Championship Round.
The St. John Fisher support all through the women's tournament run was astonishing as the team experienced things they've never been a part of.
"There was great support from the administration on down. We were given the keys to the city, honored by the mayor, and there were pep rallies before our away games during the tournament, " said coach Ermi.
The 1990 national championship game is the one that is much more unsettling for the Fisher basketball program.
After trailing most of the game, the Hope College Flying Dutch knocked of the Cardinals by hitting two free throws with no time left in regulation. The team from Holland, Michigan ended Fisher's remarkable season and kept them from hanging the honorary championship banner in Manning and Napier Varsity Gym, by handing them a 65-63 loss.
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Michigan Movers
posted 9/17/09 @ 4:09 PM EST
Quote:
"The 1990 national championship game is the one that is much more unsettling for the Fisher basketball program.
After trailing most of the game, the Hope College Flying Dutch knocked of the Cardinals by hitting two free throws with no time left in regulation. (Continued…)
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