Le Moyne Dolphins women's basketball
| Le Moyne Dolphins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| University | Le Moyne College | ||
| First season | 1958–59 66 years ago | ||
| Athletic director | Bob Beretta | ||
| Head coach | Nick DiPillo (1st season) | ||
| Conference | NEC | ||
| Location | DeWitt, New York[a] | ||
| Arena | Le Moyne Events Center (capacity: 2,637[b]) | ||
| Nickname | Dolphins | ||
| Colors | Green and gold[1] | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
| Division II: 2019 | |||
| NCAA tournament round of 32 | |||
| Division II: 2019 | |||
| NCAA tournament appearances | |||
| Division II: 2002, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| NE10: 2019 | |||
| Conference regular season champions | |||
| 2023[c] | |||
| Conference division season champions | |||
| 2019, 2022[d] | |||
The Le Moyne Dolphins women's basketball program is the women's college basketball team of Le Moyne College. The Dolphins compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the Northeast Conference and are currently coached by Mary Grimes. The Dolphins have played their home games on Ted Grant Court at the Le Moyne Events Center in DeWitt, New York. After years of playing in the Northeast-10 Conference in NCAA Division II, the Dolphins are currently transitioning to Division I and are ineligible to participate in the NCAA tournament until the 2027–28 season.
History
Le Moyne had a women's basketball team in the eight-team City League, which called itself the Le Moyne College Girls' Basketball Team, during the 1958–59 season. The team won three of its first four games, and the effort was led by senior Barbara Wood, chairman of the Le Moyne women's athletic association.[2] Lynn Eisenhauer was also a member of the team.[3]
On January 9, 1960, the team defeated the Hancock Field Women's Air Force team, 42–25, at the West Jefferson Street Armory in the opener of a doubleheader that also featured men's team against Clarkson.[4] Sue McCann led Le Moyne with 20 points, while Patty Sue Young and Joanne Pospeich added 10 each.[5]
Le Moyne participated in the Women's Recreation Basketball League during the 1960–61 season.[6]
During the 1961–62 academic year, Le Moyne's women's athletic association organized women's basketball as an intramural sport. Four teams competed in the intramural league: the Seven-Ups, captained by Nan Hurtubise, the Four Freshmen, co-captained by Rose Van Epps and Madeline Welch, the Mufki-Pufkis, captained by Nancy Allen and the Sound Offs led by captain Patty Sue Young. The teams played a six-game schedule, meeting each of the other three teams twice. Games were played on Mondays at the Charles Andrews School.[7] The Seven-Ups were the league champions, and trophies were presented to the winning team members: Nancy Dillon, Rita Ruane, Betty Graf, Emily Hodapp and Rita Amyott. Pat Resch was named most valuable player. Martha del Vecchio won the most improved player award. Rose Van Epps was honored as the most spotsmanlike player. Ruane was elected president of the women's athletic association for the 1962–63 academic year.[8]
Intercollegiate women's varsity basketball was revived at Le Moyne in December 1962. The initial team members were Pat Resch, Carol Collins, Claire Cunnion, Rita Ruane, Dale Amend, Barbara Schlaerth, Nancy Dillon and Bernadette Baecher.[9] Elizabeth Schuchman joined the team before its first game, which was at the Le Moyne Athletic Center against Auburn Community College on February 9, 1963.[10] Led by head coach Sue Gibbons, the Dolphinettes, as they were called, won that opening game, 33–26. Nancy Dillon and Dale Amend led the way with 12 points each. The Dolphinettes also earned a road win against Auburn Community, 48–46, in overtime. Bernie Baecher had 18 points in that game, and Amend added 17. The Dolphinettes dominated Nazareth, 48–6. Le Moyne did not allow a field goal in the game. Freshman Donna Argenbright led the way with 13 points, and Baecher added 11. The Dolphinettes outscored the Syracuse Orangewomen in a mid-season scrimmage. Le Moyne completed their perfect season with a 4–0 record, when they beat Cazenovia, 36–14, on March 16. Amend led the way with 17 points, and Baecher added 11 in the season finale.[11]
Women's basketball was played primarily as an intramural sport at Le Moyne during the 1963–64 academic year.[12] However, a varsity team, captained by Bernadette Baecher, was selected from the intramural players and hosted a Syracuse intramural team in March 1964, but the Dolphinettes were defeated by the Orange.[13] The Le Moyne women's athletic association organized basketball as an intramural sport during the 1964–65 academic year as well.[14]
In fall 1968, plans were announced to field a women's varsity basketball team for the 1968–69 season.[15] Women's intramural basketball was planned for the 1970–71 academic year.[16]
Official statistics for Dolphins women's basketball only go back to the 1976-77 season.[17][18]
Postseason appearances
NCAA Division II
During their time in NCAA Division II, the Dolphins were selected to play in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament five times. They were selected for the 2020 tournament, but it was not held due to the cancellation of the tournament with the COVID-19 pandemic. They had a combined record of 2–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | First Round | Bentley | L 54–65 |
| 2019 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
St. Thomas Aquinas University of the Sciences Saint Anselm |
W 55–43 W 63–56 L 61–63 |
| 2020 | First Round | St. Anselm | N/A |
| 2022 | First Round | USciences | L 38–64 |
| 2023 | First Round | Bentley | L 39–53 |
WNIT
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | First Round | Niagara | L 86–91 |
References
- ^ Le Moyne Approved Logos (PDF). Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "WAA Keeps Active". The Dolphin. Vol. 12, no. 7. February 12, 1959. p. 6. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Marie (February 28, 1959). "Oh! For the Life of a Co-Ed... Even If She Does Share Her Living Quarters with Nine Girls, and Has Incinerator Trouble". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p. 5. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "LeMoyne Takes 15th Straight Home Victory". Syracuse Herald-American. January 10, 1960. pp. 27, 29. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Reddy, Ed (January 10, 1960). "Dolphins Crush Clarkson". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp. 31, 33. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Wafs Win Easily". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. March 3, 1961. p. 14. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "W.A.A. in Action with Two Programs". The Dolphin. Vol. 15, no. 6. December 15, 1961. p. 7. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ "WAA Holds Dinner, Trophies Awarded to Winning Teams". The Dolphin. Vol. 15, no. 12. May 18, 1962. p. 6. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Women's Athletic Association Elects Officers, Forms Cage Team". The Dolphin. December 14, 1962. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "Co-Eds Inaugurate Collegiate Slate; Auburn First Foe". The Dolphin. February 12, 1963. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "Girls' Team Undefeated in First Year". The Dolphin. March 26, 1963. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "WAA Enlarges Sports Program". The Dolphin. Vol. XVII, no. 7. December 19, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "WAA Basketball, Volleyball Defeated by S.U., Cortland". The Dolphin. Vol. XVII, no. 11. March 19, 1964. p. 6. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "WAA News". The Dolphin. Vol. XVIII, no. 3. October 22, 1964. p. 8. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "W.A.A. Swings into Action". The Dolphin. October 4, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Women Liberate Athletics". The Piper. Vol. 2, no. 2. Le Moyne College. October 5, 1970. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Le Moyne College Women's Basketball - All-time Game Results". static.lemoynedolphins.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ "Northeast 10 Athletics" (PDF). Northeast 10 Athletics. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
Notes
- ^ The campus, including the Le Moyne Events Center, has a Syracuse mailing address but lies within the adjacent town of DeWitt.
- ^ This is the seating capacity for the Le Moyne Events Center when Configuration A is used. The actual seating capacity for basketball may be somewhat different.
- ^ Co-champions with Assumption.
- ^ Co-champions with Pace.