PHILADELPHIA (6/23/04) -- Led by an experienced sextet of seniors, the 2003-04 women's basketball was like no other in Saint Joseph's history. Faced with a schedule that included 16 games against teams that advanced to the postseason, a record setting group of individuals rallied together to take the Crimson and Gray on a rollercoaster ride filled with peaks and valleys that wouldn't end until the Hawks delved deeper into the postseason than any SJU team in more than a quarter century.
Collectively, the senior class of Erin Brady, Stephanie Graff, Esther Hoffer, Irina Krasnoshiok, Amra Mehmedic, and Elizabeth "Hootie" Mohan averaged 20 victories per season over their careers, reached the postseason in three consecutive years and indelibly etched their names throughout the Hawk record books. Four of the seniors (Brady, Graff, Krasnoshiok and Mehmedic) reached the 1,000 point plateau during their final collegiate campaign, making SJU just the eighth team in NCAA history to have a quartet of players reach the milestone in the same season.
Perhaps the most intimidating defensive player in program history, Graff was the most honored of the seniors. Offensively, she topped the team in rebounding and field goal percentage, while demolishing her own game, season and career standards for blocked shots. A second team All-Atlantic 10 choice, in addition to being named to the league's all-defensive team, the cerebral post performer was named to the academic all-conference and all-district teams. Also a first team all-Philadelphia Big 5 selection, Graff was cited with the SJU Class of 1950 Award, given to the top graduating senior student-athlete.
Joining Graff on the All-Philadelphia Big 5 and All-Atlantic 10 teams were Brady and Krasnoshiok, who earned spots on the second and third teams, respectively.
The team's unquestioned floor leader, Brady led the team in both assists and steals for the second straight season, while finishing third in scoring. The fifth-year senior, who shared Co-Offensive MVP honors with Krasnoshiok, proved to be one of the league's top point guards.
Krasnoshiok, meanwhile, accepted a new role coming off the bench and developed into one of the conference's top sixth players. One of the most gifted shooters in Hawk history, she finally grasped her immense ability and garnered third team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Placing among SJU's career leaders in accuracy both from the stripe and beyond the arc, the Moldovan led the team with a 12.8 points per game average and placed second in rebounding.
Like Krasnoshiok, Mehmedic also settled into a new role coming off the bench and continued to mature as a ball-handler, passer and perimeter shooter. The top three-point threat in program history, she shattered long standing Hawk marks for career field goals and attempts beyond the arc. Also among the most accurate free throw shooters in school history, the charismatic and emotional leader was never shy to take and make big shots.
Mohan was the team's unsung hero, doing all of the little things necessary to elevate the team's level of play. Her value could not be quantified in the boxscore as her versatility and willingness to make the extra pass, set a key screen, grab the tough rebound or come up with an important steal made her an invaluable asset.
The final Hawk senior, Esther Hoffer, continued in her role as the team's communicator. The bubbly four-year walk-on established herself as a fan favorite with her boundless spirit and energy.
Among the underclassmen, Maura McBryan usually filled out the Hawks' starting five. Possessing a balanced all-around game and an infectious energy on the floor, the sophomore likely led the team in bruises, floor burns, and hustle plays, while continuing to develop into a perimeter threat.
Newcomer Ayahna Cornish was the lone first-year player to see significant playing time, but her impact was considerable. The rookie made 15 starts as a freshman and flashed glimpses of her vast potential, as both a scorer and ferocious defender.
Sophomores Faith Gross and Kelly Springman filled out the team's regular rotation. Arguably the most improved player in the conference, Springman emerged as a capable floor general. Proving to be both a dangerous perimeter shooter and adept ball handler, her presence gave the Hawks increased flexibility in the backcourt.
An athletic post player, Gross appeared in 29 games off the bench, providing quality minutes on the block while continuing to develop a more polished post game.
Two other Hawks, sophomore Christen Scanlon and freshman Whitney Ffrench, impressed the coaching staff with their competitive fire and athleticism and are expected to accept expanded roles. Freshman Brie Finney and Erica Pollock (redshirt) rounded out the roster.
The Season
The season opened on the right foot as SJU dispatched crosstown rival Drexel in the season opener before traveling to Miami for the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. In Florida, the Hawks had a golden opportunity to capture a key victory over eventual NCAA qualifier Iowa, but instead saw a late lead evaporate and SJU found itself in the consolation game of an in-season tournament for the first time since 1999.
The team rebounded, picking up a pair of wins over Appalachian State and Lehigh, before falling to Villanova in a nail-biter at the Pavilion. Another key win, this time over ACC powerhouse Virginia was tempered by a humbling loss at the hands of top ranked and eventual national champion Connecticut in front of a sold-out Palestra. The team then downed Stoney Brook in the opening round of the Hawk Classic, but was stunned in overtime by George Mason in the closing minutes in the tournament's title game.
The squad's up-and-down early season play positioned the team just a game over .500 entering the new year and SJU hoped to usher in a new attitude as the conference slate opened.
Decisive home victories over Duquesne and Massachusetts set the stages for the most significant game of the Cindy Griffin era, a nationally televised clash with longtime nemesis George Washington. The Hawks landed the first punch in the matchup of A-10 heavyweights and placed four players in double figures to key a gritty 64-62 victory over the Colonials and secured the team's first win in the nation's capital since 1997.
With confidence now brimming, the Hawks headed to Ohio and pulled off the difficult double by sweeping Xavier and Dayton and in the process, rewarded Griffin with her 100th career victory in the 59-53 win at XU. SJU returned home to post a convincing win over La Salle to extend the team's winning streak to a season-high six games.
The surging Hawks run would come to a screeching halt in disappointing fashion, as Temple needed overtime to edge SJU in a battle between the A-10's final remaining unbeaten teams. Nationally ranked Penn State cruised past the Hawks in front of a sold-out Fieldhouse crowd less than a week later.
Rebounding from back-to-back losses, the Crimson and Gray notched a convincing win over Richmond at home, but were then stunned in Olean suffering a setback at the hands of the Bonnies for the first time in a decade.
Routs on the road at Fordham and Penn appeared to put the Hawks back on track, but the team sandwiched a pair of tough losses to Rhode Island and Temple around another win over UMass. The late season swoon placed the Hawks' backs against the wall in the team's quest for an NCAA Tournament berth. SJU first gained redemption by pasting St. Bonaventure and then topped Rhode Island in Kingston, before closing out the regular season with a memorable senior day victory over Fordham.
Cindy Griffin's charges now knew what they had to do, win three games in three days on their home floor in the A-10 Tournament to capture the league's automatic bid to the big dance. SJU earned a bye in the tourney's opening round and set a new A-10 record by hitting 32 of 44 from the free throw line in defeating Duquesne in the quarterfinals.
In the semis, with the team's season hanging in the balance, it was fittingly the Hawk seniors who rose to the occasion, netting 62 of the team's 70 points in an emotional victory over George Washington that gave SJU it's 20th win of the season and propelled the team into the A-10 title game for the second time in three years.
In the final against Temple, the Hawks fell behind early and trailed by as many as 16 late in the second half before staging a furious comeback. Mehmedic canned a key three late and after Graff scored on consecutive possessions in the paint, SJU was within a pair with 32 seconds left. Alas, it was not to be as several Hawk attempts were off the mark in the waning seconds and the Owls iced the game with free throws late. Graff, who had a double-double in the final, and Krasnoshiok each earned all-tournament honors for their efforts.
Despite the end, the Hawks reached the postseason for the third straight year, garnering the program's fourth trip to the WNIT. After an 11-day layoff, the Hawks were happy to return to the floor and shook off the rust with a 10-point win over Kent State in the tourney's opening round at the Fieldhouse.
The squad returned to the floor two days later against Seton Hall and survived a grueling regulation and overtime to live to play another day. The seniors were again the catalysts, scoring all 11 points in the extra frame. The win propelled SJU into the WNIT's Elite 8 and saw the team notch consecutive postseason victories for the first time since 1978.
In the round of eight, SJU was sent on the road to Ames, Iowa to square off against Iowa State. Playing in one of college basketball's most hostile environments, SJU managed to keep the partisan crowd of 14,000 in check most of the way. The game remained tight throughout, as the score was tied eight times and the lead changed hands on 12 occasions. The Hawks held a lead with just over two minutes to play, but a short jumper and key three put the Cyclones on top for good.
The 2003-04 Saint Joseph's University women's basketball season was an emotional rollercoaster ride. With six sensational seniors sitting in the lead car the Hawks careened through the regular and postseason with a reckless abandon that made memories at every hairpin turn. It is said that it is not the beginning and not the end that matters most, but rather the journey. The legacy of this group of Hawks is secure, it will be charted in the record books and remembered for what it was--the ride of a lifetime
