Women's Basketball News Releases
Cowan named MVP, Cecchetti all-tournament at Lakeland
Coming up - Tuesday, Nov. 25, vs. Augustana, Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 6 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 1, at Mount Mercy, Cedar Rapids, 6 p.m.
Ram review - Cornell senior Tiffany Cowan (Atchison, Kan./Truman) notched a pair of double-doubles and junior Kristin Paczosa (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) scored the winning bucket against Northland in helping the undefeated Rams capture the tournament title in the "Play with Grace" Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-off Tournament Nov. 21-22 at Wolzen Gymnasium in Sheboygan, Wis.
Cornell hung on for a 61-57 win over Northland in Friday's first-round game. The Rams then knocked off host Lakeland, 54-43, in the championship Saturday afternoon.
Northland is the preseason favorite to win the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Lakeland is picked to finish third in the North Division of the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC).
The Rams (3-0) are off to their best start to a season in 10 years. Cornell also opened the 1999-2000 campaign at 3-0.
"Those were two good wins for us," Cornell head coach Brent Brase said. "We played solid defensively, but still must get much more consistent. We aren't executing defensively with the type of consistency or intensity that we are capable. We also need to rebound much better and continue to work on taking care of the ball to compete against better competition."
Cowan was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 15.0 points and 11 rebounds in the two wins. Cornell freshman Teresa Cecchetti (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) joined Cowan on the all-tournament team, totaling 23 points and 13 rebounds over the weekend.
Defense was the theme for the Rams, who held both opponents under 33 percent shooting from the field. Cornell limited Lakeland (2-1) to 25 percent shooting in the championship game, including 4-of-24 from the floor in the second half.
The Rams led Lakeland 30-26 at halftime, then opened the second half with a 7-0 run behind back-to-back field goals from Cowan and Cecchetti, followed by a 3-pointer from Cowan. Lakeland never pulled closer than seven points in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Cowan and junior Charlotte Milas (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) shared game-high honors with 16 points apiece against Lakeland. Cowan shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range and grabbed 10 rebounds, all on the defensive end. Cecchetti chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds. Paczosa added nine rebounds coming off the bench.
"Our two captains, Tiffany and Charlotte, played very well against Lakeland," Brase said. "It may have been one of Tiffany's better games defensively and Charlotte's better games offensively as a Ram."
Cornell raced to a 33-20 halftime lead against Northland, only to see the Lumberjacks rally and tie the score at 57-57 with 30 seconds left in the game. Paczosa delivered the game-winning points on a layup with 10 seconds remaining. After Northland missed a 3-pointer at the other end, Cowan was fouled and stamped the victory with two free throws with one second remaining.
"We did a nice job making a couple plays down the stretch against Northland," Brase said. "On the go-ahead basket, Morgan (Woods) and Teresa (Cecchetti) did a nice job moving the ball and finding Kristin, who did a great job finishing."
Cowan finished another big game with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Cecchetti and Milas tossed in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Paczosa contributed nine points and seven rebounds. Freshman Morgan Woods (Milwaukee, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) had eight points and a team-high three steals.
