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In a season that could only be described as a roller coaster ride from start to finish, the Rutgers women's basketball team's 2003-2004 campaign came to an abrupt end this past weekend.
From the regular season opening tip-off against St. Peter's, to the final whistle in the Scarlet Knights' first-round loss to Chattanooga in the NCAA Tournament, the team was constantly faced with one injury followed by another.
For a Knights team that was nationally ranked as high as 16th in the polls prior to the season, it is clear that this team never truly was able to show their full potential.
"There was not two weeks this entire season when this starting group was able to practice together," Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "It was a most difficult season for me."
Already preparing to start the season short a post player - with junior forward Mariota Theodoris rehabbing an ACL injury - the Knights were quickly dealt another blow to the program when junior guard Chelsea Newton was injured during offseason weight training and had to sit out the first five games of the season.
"We didn't expect Mariota to not start the preseason with us," Stringer said. " It also didn't help having so many road games."
Starting the season with a 3-4 record, RU looked in trouble early on.
They then returned to the friendly confines of the Louis Brown Athletic Center - where the team posted a 14-1 record - and started another streak, this time being five wins in a row.
During that time, led by junior guard Cappie Pondexter, the Knights upset the 17th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 56-53. Pondexter scored only 13 points on the evening, but nailed a three with 5.4 seconds left to give RU the win.
The remainder of the season featured the team playing competitive ball, with the exception of the Knights two meetings with Connecticut. The Knights were unable to stick with the Huskies in each of their matchups, losing by 25 and 23 points.
Following the team's second debacle at the hands of UConn, it looked as if RU was on the outside looking in regarding an NCAA tournament bid. With a record of 14-9, Stringer knew the team had to get it together to finish the season if they intended to make the "Big Dance."
"When it looked like we wouldn't make the NCAAs, we knew we had to defeat Seton Hall and Notre Dame in the Big East to have a chance," Stringer said.
With the team needing wins, they put together wins against Notre Dame, 69-55, and Seton Hall, 55-45. The two wins to close out the regular season put the Knights in the Big East Tournament as the seven seed, and knowing one or two wins would be needed to ensure themselves of an NCAA bid.
It would not be easy, however, with Newton's status questionable for the tournament due to a concussion sustained in the regular season finale.
In the first round, RU found themselves facing Seton Hall for the second time in under a week. With Pondexter leading a trio of Knights in double-figures, RU advanced to the second round, where they then upset two-seeded Notre Dame, 51-45.
The third round of the tourney saw RU facing West Virginia, who had defeated the team two weeks prior to the rematch. Double-doubles by junior forward Michelle Campbell and senior guard Dawn McCullouch propelled RU into the improbable championship game featuring the Knights against Boston College.
Stringer's squad - who dressed two student managers due to being undermanned, however - would fall to the Eagles losing 75-57, despite a stellar performance by Pondexter in which she dropped 27 points.
"When we played BC, we were one guard short," Stringer said.
What Stringer was referring to was the absences of not only Newton but, McCullouch as well. Known as a player that plays as if every minute was her last, the senior drove to the hoop with only seconds remaining on the clock and with her team holding a comfortable lead.
In the air, McCullouch was greeted by a WVU player and fell to the ground awkwardly, landing on her right knee. Despite having an impressive senior season, the California native tore her ACL and ended her collegiate career on the bench.
Because of the team's performance in the NCAAs, the team received a seventh seed and was shipped out to Tennessee to play UTC on their home-court. Getting only seven trips to the foul-line compared to 38 for the Lady Mocs, the team dropped a difficult 74-69 heartbreaker.
Despite a difficult way to end the season, the future looks bright for this program. With only one player leaving due to graduation, the Knights will have the majority of this season's squad returning. Add in Theodoris, who has now had a year to rehab her injury, and signing three All-American guards, this team has the potential for big things next season.
This season provided glimpses of greatness, next season could prove to be the year where everything finally comes together.
KNIGHT NOTE: Pondexter was selected to The Associated Press All-America Third Team.
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