MARIETTA, Ohio — No matter the outcome this Friday night, history will be made as the Marietta College women's basketball team will make their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament. After making a legendary fourth-quarter comeback last weekend, defeating host Ithaca College, the Pioneers have earned the right to play on and face Babson College on Friday (Mar. 10) at 8:00 p.m. in Babson Park, Massachusetts.
Babson (25-5), ranked #13 in the last d3hoops.com women's Top 25, lost to Smith College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championship, 67-52. The Beavers received an at-large bid into the field of 64 and have posted two double-digit victories in the first two rounds. Babson defeated Maine Maritime Academy in round one, 69-44, and defeated SUNY New Paltz, 76-66, in round two.
Marietta, under the direction of seventh-year head coach
Kole Vivian, will once again bring a team that is blessed with depth as he will rotate as many as 11 players into the game. Over the last two months, the starting five has been comprised of seniors
Devin Hefner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) and
Camille Cummins (MIddlefield, Ohio/Cardinal), juniors
Hannah Kroft (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) and
Kelly Levering (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), and sophomore
Madison Cecil (Centerburg, Ohio/Highland). Senior
Erin Hahn (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville), junior
Olivia Gribble (Irwin, Pa./Norwin), and sophomore
Paige Tolson (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) will be key contributors that will come off the bench.
Hefner capped off the comeback last Saturday evening, tying the game at 42 with a layup with 53 seconds to play. The senior then, after getting fouled with seconds on the clock, calmly sank both free throws and secured the victory. For the season, Hefner is tied for the team scoring lead with 9.3 points per game and averages 5.2 rebounds per night. She leads the Pioneers with 61 assists and an 89.6% free throw percentage.
Gribble is also tied as the Pioneers' leading scorer averaging 9.3 points per game. She also leads the team in three-point field goals (48).
Hahn averages 9.0 points and a conference-best 9.0 rebounds per game. She also leads the team in steals with 43.
Judy Blinstrub is in her 39th season as the head coach at Babson. Coming into this season, Blinstrub posted a 693-324 (.681) record. The Beavers will also start two seniors, two juniors, and a sophomore in the Friday night matchup.
Leading the way is senior guard Megan Bauman. Bauman is averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 assists per game and is among the league leaders in her conference in those categories. Senior forward Samantha Smith averages 12.8 points per game and leads her team with 7.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Katelyn Mollica can light it up from three-point range, nailing 54 three-pointers with a 42% shooting percentage.
Friday's winners will meet in a national quarterfinal on Saturday (Mar. 11) at 7:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Division III Final Four.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
