Blazers Exceed Lofty Goals With Two Championships
Another 20-win season, another NCAA tournament appearance, and another MIAC regular season championship. And that was only the 2005-2006 season. Coming off a year of great achievements, the 2006-2007 College of Saint Benedict basketball team had a lot to live up to. Fortunately for the Blazers, they only lost one player from last season’s team to graduation. Unfortunately, that one player was Anna Heikenen (CSB ‘05), who was named the 2005-2006 MIAC Player of the Year, chosen to the All-West region team, and selected to two All-American teams. Heikenen made her mark as the sole senior captain on last year’s team. However, this year’s Blazers had the advantage: five seniors to lead the 2006-2007 team.
Seniors Ellie Boone (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove HS), Darby Noreen (Avon, Minn. / Albany HS), Katie Kempe (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall), Jen Dalhed (Apple Valley, Minn. / Apple Valley HS), and Jaime Goehner (Jamestown, N.D. / Jamestown HS) were called on to provide support and leadership for the Blazers on and off the court. The five seniors had the experience necessary to teach and develop their younger teammates, who would make huge contributions throughout the season. They had gained such experience in part by winning a MIAC regular season championship the year before. The 2005-2006 team finished the season with a 21-6 record (17-3 in the MIAC) and appeared in the NCAA tournament.
With four starters returning from that team, the 2006-2007 team had high hopes for the season. The senior five provided the consistency CSB needed. However, as head coach Mike Durbin looked down the bench, he often found the necessary boost from one of his talented younger players. Juniors Judy Falvey (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville HS) and Mackenzie O’Neil (Waseca, Minn. / Waseca HS) were known to take over games when the Blazers needed them the most. Sophomores Ariel Tauer (Edina, Minn. / Edina HS) and Nikki Carter (Edina, Minn. / Edina HS) proved themselves more with each new game. When the Blazers were in need of some energy on the floor, they turned to first-year wing Mindy Schmidt (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Champlin Park HS).
The 2006-2007 season started a little rough as the Blazers spent the first weekend of the year in Boston, Mass. After facing a couple tough opponents in Wesleyan University (Conn.) and Salve Regina University (R.I.), CSB returned to St. Joseph, Minn. with a 0-2 record. The slow start did not rattle the Blazers for a second, especially because they knew the home opener was just two days away. The Blazers reopened Claire Lynch Hall against Crown College and then began the MIAC schedule against Concordia-Moorhead. CSB won both games as they jump started their season. From there, they went on a nine-game winning streak, their longest streak of the year, spanning from November 21, 2006 to January 10, 2007. During the run, the Blazers defeated Concordia-Moorhead, Gustavus Adolphus, and Carleton (the eventual number two, three, and four seeds in the MIAC playoffs) by an average of 15 points.
The 10-2 start on the year and an 8-0 MIAC record in mid-January gave the Blazers the confidence and momentum they needed to continue outplaying their resilient MIAC opponents. Despite two crucial injuries in mid-January, CSB adapted and pushed towards a playoff spot and a possible regular season championship.
The Blazers finished the MIAC schedule with a 19-3 record and clinched their tenth MIAC regular season title, and their second in a row. CSB’s ten titles tie them for the most by any school in MIAC history. With their top seed, the Blazers secured a bye in the first round of the MIAC playoffs.
In their semifinal matchup, CSB faced Carleton College. The Knights knocked off the Blazers exactly one year earlier in the semifinal game at Claire Lynch Hall in 2006. However, CSB refused to repeat history and came up with a 74-50 victory over Carleton. It was the largest defeat (24 points) of any round in MIAC playoff history.
CSB took on Gustavus Adolphus for the championship. The Gusties were only one of two teams to defeat the Blazers by more than seven points all season. Gustavus held the lead for 31 minutes of the game and pulled ahead by 10 points early in the second half. However, with four minutes remaining in regulation the Blazers gained their first lead since the opening basket of the game. CSB held off the Gusties and won the MIAC playoff championship game by two points. The win gave the Blazers their second championship in the first seven years of MIAC playoff existence.
The Blazers gained an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament with their championship victory. CSB took on Wheaton College (Ill.) in the first round of the tournament. CSB and Wheaton struggled back and forth on their way to a double overtime game. Despite double-doubles from both Boone and O’Neil, Wheaton came out on top with a four point victory.
CSB was done for the season, but had only smiles on their faces. They gave everything they could and had accomplished nearly everything they set out to do. The Blazers earned the MIAC regular season title and won the MIAC playoff championship, a feat no other team has ever accomplished in the same season. The Blazers even defended their statistical title as they finished first in the nation in fewest team turnovers per game (just 13.5 turnovers). The team was able to meet their lofty goals with determination and a great deal of teamwork.
While the team was highly decorated in 2006-2007, many individual Blazers performed extraordinarily throughout the season as well. Seniors Boone and Noreen were named to the All-MIAC team. Noreen averaged 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. She also led the MIAC in three-point field goal percentage and ranked eighth nationally with a 43.4 shooting percentage. Boone averaged 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and one block per game as she was voted CSB’s Most Valuable Player and selected to the All-West region third team.
Other Blazers receiving awards this year included O’Neil, Tauer, Carter, and Schmidt. O’Neil was the only Blazer to receive two MIAC awards. She was selected as an All-MIAC honorable mention and named to the MIAC All-Defensive team. O’Neil averaged 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds. She earned her recognition from the defensive side of the court, where she led the MIAC and was ranked 31st nationally with 3.2 steals per game. Tauer was also named All-MIAC honorable mention with 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She also led the Blazers with 2.4 assists per game from the frontcourt. Carter represented CSB on the inaugural MIAC All-Sportsmanship team. Schmidt was named to the MIAC All-First Year team, averaging 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds off the bench.
The five senior Blazers truly proved their importance throughout the season. They finished their careers on a high note, winning two MIAC championships in the same season. While they showed what they could bring to the floor each and every game, their impact will continue to resonate next season. The remainder of the team, including three returning starters, will remember what they saw and learned from these five seniors and continue to improve together. Going into the 2007-2008 season, the Blazers will once again face high expectations and be forced to prove themselves all over again.
Peter Banick, CSB Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant
Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098