2007-08 Season Review: Pride Finished 21-8,
Won USA South Title and Went to NCAAs
The Greensboro College women’s basketball team pulled another trifecta. They won the USA South regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA championships. Under Coach Jason Tuggle, GC accomplished the same feats in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Greensboro finished with a 21-8 record and was 15-3 in conference games.
GC found its stride in January. The Pride welcomed newcomers Ashley Burnette, Dione Eccles and Raynisha Johnson.
Yet GC shifted into high gear In February. The Pride finished with 11 straight victories over conference opponents. None were more exciting than the last two, which took place in the USA South tournament in Newport News, Va.
In the semifinal, junior guard Eccles scored a USA South record 54 points as The Pride women's basketball team advanced to the finals of the USA South tournament with a thrilling 117-113 double overtime victory over Ferrum.
Eccles set the scoring record by going 16-26 from the field and 16-17 from the foul line. She scored eight straight points late in the second half to get GC back in the game. She also added 11 rebounds. Danielle Duncan scored 25 points and had 12 rebounds.
Twice Ferrum was on the verge of upsetting the top-seeded Pride, but GC freshman Duncan made a layup with under a second remaining to force overtime, and Katie Freeman hit a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining to send the game into double overtime
"That was the best game I've been a part of," said coach Tuggle. "Dione had a great game, but it was all in the flow of our offense. We were down in the second half, but we stayed composed."
On the following day, freshman standout Duncan had 28 points to lead GC to an 83-80 win over host Christopher Newport in the USA South championship game. An all tourney team pick, Duncan scored 24 of her points in the second half and helped GC rally from a 17-point deficit.
Eccles, who averaged 20 points per game, was picked the tournament MVP and a USAS first team selection. She also was named to the D3Hoops.com all region third team.
Duncan (17.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 13 double-doubles) was a second team all conference pick and Tuggle garnered his fourth conference coach of the year award.
An amazing part of this year’s story is that The Pride started the year with a 1-4 record. Also of note is that GC’s young team fielded no seniors. This fact bodes well for the future.
