Friday, March 10, 2000

XU women savor Atlantic 10 title

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RPI rank is highest ever entering NCAAs

BY PETE HOLTERMANN
Enquirer contributor

Xavier women hoist their first A-10 tournament trophy after Monday's victory. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        As the Xavier women's basketball team returned to practice Thursday for the first time since winning the Atlantic 10 tournament on Monday, coach Melanie Balcomb was still getting used to being the conference champion.

        When she walked into the XU athletic department and saw her team's trophy, she thought, “Is this ours?”

        Balcomb is getting the Musketeers ready for their second consecutive NCAA Tournament, after winning the A-10 title in her fifth year as coach.

        After two seasons as head coach at Division II Ashland University, Balcomb was hired by Xavier in September 1995 to replace Mark Ehlen, who had left for Toledo.

        Balcomb instituted her up-tempo style and led XU to a 15-13 overall record in the team's first season in the A-10.

        The next year, XU went 10-17, but it wasn't long before Balcomb turned things around.

        By March 1999, XU was primed for the most thrilling week in the program's history.

        First, the Muskies reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history. Then they won an NCAA game for the first time ever, beating Florida International. And then they nearly upset powerhouse Connecticut, losing 86-84 in a second-round NCAA game at UConn.

        For now, just winning an A-10 tourney title is special for Balcomb.

        “If I had inherited all of it, it wouldn't have been nearly as sweet,” she said. “It was a long road to get there.”

        Kim Hotz, a senior on this year's club, was Balcomb's first recruit at Xavier. “When I came here, I thought it was a dream just to play Division I,” Hotz said. “Winning the A-10, playing in the NCAA Tournament twice, it's more than I could ask for.”

        Balcomb is 92-55 at XU, including 24-9 last year and 26-4 this season.

        The team's Ratings Percentage Index has climbed from No.94 four years ago to a school-record No.25 this week.

        “Last year, we just wanted to get in,” Balcomb said. “I think it says a lot about our program that now we can think about where we'll be playing and where we're going to go.

        “Sometimes as a coach, it's hard to stop and enjoy the ride. I'm trying to enjoy it.”

       

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