Guru’s End of the Decade Series: Focus Player and Moments of the Non-Big 5 Group

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

PHILADELPHIA - To offer something to the others in the local Guru D 1 mix not involved with the Big 5, here’s the call out to the key player(s) and moments of memory from the past 10 seasons.

 

RIDER – Player of Decade:  (Tie) Robin Perkins, Stella Johnson

Moments – The 2017 season when the Broncs smashed the books, beginning with a win at Princeton and then on to the MAAC title game, though losing to heavyweight Quinnipiac, a first-ever WNIT appearance and then an encore in 2019.

 

PRINCETON – Player of the Decade  (Tie) Niveen Rasheed, Bella Alarie

Moments — Starting the line of Ivy titles under former coach Courtney Banghart, first AP Poll rankings, and especially the unbeaten run all the way to the second round of the NCAA.

 

RUTGERS – Player of the Decade (Tie) Tyler Scaife, Betnijah Laney, Kahleah Copper

Moments – C. Vivian Stringer gets her 1000^th victory, Scarlet Knights win WNIT, Scaife becomes second all-time leading scorer, Rutgers moves from old Big East to Big 10.

 

PENN STATE – Player of the Decade – Maggie Lucas

Moments – Sandy Barbour, formerly with Cal, becomes athletic director steering overall department to better times. The Lucas years were fine but then afterwards a hiccup that may be on the way to being resolved. The passing of retired coach Rene Portland.

 

 DREXEL – Player of the Decade – Hollie Mershon (May be updated)

Moments – Dragons win the WNIT, Dragons see 2019 CAA title game fade in final minutes, the Delaware battles, upset of Syracuse, the season zipped through all Big Five in a row on schedule except Temple, which didn’t play.

 

DELAWARE – Player of the Decade – Elena Delle Donne (she stands alone over all this )

Moments — Anytime Delle Donne touched the ball, Winning NCAA first two rounds and advancing to Sweet 16, win over Penn State, getting ranked in AP Poll, post-Delle Donne (long running coach Tina Martin era concludes). Also, alum and then USA Vice President Joe Biden becoming a fan and attendee. 

 

   Updates and more to come.