2008 Woodie Awards
Lady Lions win GSAC championship
Team earned bid into NCAA Division-III National Tournament
by Brian Carter
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
The Piedmont Lady Lions basketball team made history after defeating archrival Maryville College 89-73 in the Great South Athletic Conference, GSAC, championship March 1. The women earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Division-III National Tournament for the second consecutive season.
The Lady Lions fell in the first round of the national tournament to Oglethorpe University, just as they did last season against Randolph-Macon College. However, the women became the first Piedmont team in the NCAA era to earn a bid in consecutive seasons to the Division-III tournament.
"We worked hard this year and it paid off, which we proved in the tournament," says senior Nikki Sosebee.
The Lady Lions basketball team captured more than just a GSAC title and a spot in the history books. Several individuals were honored for their efforts. Sosebee was named the GSAC Player of the Year, while Jamie Childs-Purdy was named GSAC Coach of the Year following a 24-4 season that included a 14-0 conference record.
Sosebee and Sheena Trimiar, the GSAC tournament Most Valuable Player, were named to the All-Conference team, while a conference-best seven Lady Lions were named to the All-Academic team. Senior Yetta Bailey knew this season would be special.
"We didn't lose anyone from last year, so we had a good feeling coming into this season, playing with the same people two years in a row," says Bailey. "The incoming freshmen helped out and added to our arsenal."
The Lady Lions will part ways with five seniors: Bailey, Sarah Lane, Stephanie Rainwater, Sosebee and Trimiar. Although the season didn't end where the women wanted it to, it wasn't a bust.
"It felt great to beat Maryville three times," says Sosebee.
"We wanted to beat Maryville badly, and we did," says Bailey. "It was icing on the cake to beat them on our court to win the championship."
The Lady Lions fell in the first round of the national tournament to Oglethorpe University, just as they did last season against Randolph-Macon College. However, the women became the first Piedmont team in the NCAA era to earn a bid in consecutive seasons to the Division-III tournament.
"We worked hard this year and it paid off, which we proved in the tournament," says senior Nikki Sosebee.
The Lady Lions basketball team captured more than just a GSAC title and a spot in the history books. Several individuals were honored for their efforts. Sosebee was named the GSAC Player of the Year, while Jamie Childs-Purdy was named GSAC Coach of the Year following a 24-4 season that included a 14-0 conference record.
Sosebee and Sheena Trimiar, the GSAC tournament Most Valuable Player, were named to the All-Conference team, while a conference-best seven Lady Lions were named to the All-Academic team. Senior Yetta Bailey knew this season would be special.
"We didn't lose anyone from last year, so we had a good feeling coming into this season, playing with the same people two years in a row," says Bailey. "The incoming freshmen helped out and added to our arsenal."
The Lady Lions will part ways with five seniors: Bailey, Sarah Lane, Stephanie Rainwater, Sosebee and Trimiar. Although the season didn't end where the women wanted it to, it wasn't a bust.
"It felt great to beat Maryville three times," says Sosebee.
"We wanted to beat Maryville badly, and we did," says Bailey. "It was icing on the cake to beat them on our court to win the championship."
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