On an emotional senior day at the Shannon Center, Saint Xavier’s women’s basketball team avenged a January road loss to Cardinal Stritch University by defeating the No. 16 Wolves, 66-45. With the victory, the Cougars are CCAC North Division Champions and earned the second overall seed in the conference tournament, as well as an automatic bid to the national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.
Brittany Collins, Maddie Welter, Kara Krolicki and Mikayla Leyden each posted double-digit scoring efforts, and combined for 55 of the Cougars’ 66 points in the win. On a day dedicated to recognizing contributions from seniors, it was freshman Maddie Welter leading the way in scoring with 15.
Conventionally, seniors are looked upon as leaders on and off the court with a responsibility to guide underclassmen through unfamiliar situations. On this Saint Xavier club, the seniors set a precedent that all ages are on an even plain.
“I think what makes it so great is that we treat all the underclassmen as if they’re as old as us,” senior guard Revi McMahon said postgame. “I think everyone is a leader.”
Earlier in the week, Revi suffered an injury that unfortunately would end her playing career. On Saturday, however, McMahon sat alongside her teammates in full uniform.
With 43 seconds left to play in a 64-45 ballgame, head coach Bob Hallberg motioned McMahon to take the floor. To a standing ovation, Revi graced the court with a limp and a knee brace protecting her torn right ACL.
In a heartwarming show of sportsmanship, Cardinal Stritch stepped aside as McMahon dribbled her way to the free throw line and fired away one final jump shot.
“Thank goodness it went in,” Revi said with a smile. McMahon described being on the floor in the final seconds of senior day alongside her teammates as, “an amazing moment I’ll never forget.”
The final horn sounded on another successful regular season for the Cougars. The women finished with a 27-2 record and a No. 3 overall rank in the country.
Saint Xavier has plans to play deep into the NAIA tournament this March after already having achieved a CCAC title.
“We’ve got unfinished business,” McMahon said. “We are definitely looking to go all the way this year and I think we can. We have a great team and I’m so excited.”
The Cougars fell to Olivet Nazarene University last February in the CCAC semifinals and made an early exit in the NAIA tournament as well. Saint Xavier will begin their conference title run on Wednesday, February 22 at home against Trinity Christian College.
The opening round of the CCAC tournament will be broadcasted live on WXAV.com or 88.3 FM Chicago. Pregame starts at 6:45 PM.
Mike Rankin
Senior Sports Editor