Women's Hoops Guru

(Guru's note: This is an enhancement of the print story at Philly.com and includes postgame quotes from Holy Family)

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA - It was a day of complete bliss for Holy Family senior Kelly Killion, a graduate of Camden Catholic High.

Her brother Jack was married to Melissa Slaughter Saturday afternoon with Killion in attendance. The entire wedding party, still dressed in their finest attire, continued the celebration at night at Campus Center where the unbeaten and top-seeded Tigers moved to within a victory for the NCAA Division II Northeast Region championship.

Killion’s new sister-in-law watched in her white bridal gown near the top of the stands as Holy Family beat fifth-seeded Assumption, 73-49, in the second semifinal after third-seeded Franklin Pierce upset second-seeded Stonehill, 68-56.

The Tigers (31-0), ranked fourth in the coaches poll, will meet the Ravens (26-5) at 7 p.m. in Monday night’s title game in Northeast Philadelphia. The winner advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight finals in Kearney, Neb., March 26-29.

“Today was a big day for my family,” Killion said of what became a day for two celebrations. “It was a great experience. But my focus was totally on the team. My brother knew that. They all knew that. I went for the ceremony and I got out of there as fast as I could.

“Because my head and my heart are with my team right now, as much as I love my family. They totally understand that. But the focus is on this team and getting things done and continuing to do what we have to do to continue to win.”

Even though every game now threatens to be the last for Killion, she has taken her senior year in stride, especially as it approaches its final moments.

“Going into your senior year, you don’t think you’re going to be undefeated this far along. But this had been a great ride. We have great players on the team. We have consistent freshmen that came in and did what they needed to do for us.”

Although there was some concern over Assumption’s size, the Tigers didn’t have too much difficulty.

“Our energy level was tremendous,” Holy Family coach Mike McLaughlin said. “That’s what we talked about today at the shoot-around. We had to push out from underneath the basket. Size is only an advantage if they use it and we pushed them away.

“We wanted to have them guard us out on the perimeter and our players were able to beat them off the dribble.”

Melissa Brooks scored 16 points for Holy Family. Killion, a native of Pennsauken, had 13 points and dealt 12 assists, while Lindsey Tennett scored 14 points. Catherine Carr added 13 points, and Christine McCollum had had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“This has just been the best ride of my life,” said Brooks, a Neshaminy High graduate. “I couldn’t ask for a better decision to be here. I’m not saying it’s over yet. Because it’s far from it.”

Assumption’s Kayla Parker scored 16 points.

Holy Family exchanged streaks with the Greyhounds (22-10) in the first half before building a 32-21 lead at the break.

The Tigers roared from there the rest of the way.

“Each team, we know they are going to go on runs,” Killion said. “But we stay composed. The same thing happened last game. Our team, as young as we are, we have great, great team chemistry. And the composure of our younger players is unmatched.

“We have players who can handle the ball at any point in the game. And people are willing to make great shots, which is what we did.”

In the opener, Franklin Pierce’s Johanna Leedham, a native of England, scored 30 points, while Kelsey Simmons scored 20 points for the Skyhawks (27-5).

“Leedham is very, very good,” McLaughlin said of the star of tomorrow night’s opponent. “She is going to be very difficult to guard.

“They like to get out and run. They’re tough. I only saw them live, twice, but I saw them on video.”

--Mel