Belen (from Spain) is checking out what has arrived to eat. Lots of discussion went on about the game and what to anticipate for next year. There were a few more to arrive. We just had to wait.........
In the photo below, from left to right, Steve, Belen, Yona (from Germany), Maria (from Portugal) and Stella (who is from France). Meet our girls :)
While waiting, just taking photos and watching the conversation was quite intriguing. Of course, Maria (photo below) is assessing the food situation. FYI- the guy on the right in the photo to the left, Carlos (from Spain), assisted Steve with coaching for part of the season.
Finally, the rest of the girls came and we ate!!! We all enjoyed the different dishes made by the girls (and me).
Claudia (girl on left from China) loves her scotcheroos. Supplying them with scotcheroos after every game was something Claudia looked forward to. She eyed one and ate it! :)
Anya (in background from London) and Nickie (from Vietnam) exemplified what a wonderful evening we had together. We have a unique team of girls.
Vas (from Greece) is chatting with Damla (from Turkey) and her boyfriend Arnott (from the Netherlands).
On the left in the background, Nazli (from Cyprus), Yona (with her back toward us) and Deborah (on the couch to the right of Yona, from London) with Anya, Nickie, Maria, Claudia and Stella, were enjoying delightful conversation.
Before leaving, Maria showed Steve some funny games the girls had played together after our last get together having pancakes.
Was it a fun evening? You bet it was!!!
Here we are in Preston at UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire) before the game to win the Cup. This photo was taken for the newspaper.
We haven't had to deal with injuries much this whole season, but poor Nickie twisted her ankle. It was not a pretty sight for her, as even the next day it is turning colors.
Sitting next to the score table helped me a lot, as I could keep the stats much better. The girls from Leeds Metro Carnegie are pictured in the background.
The game was quite intense! This team was our toughest competition and the girls had to really want to win. Coach Steve was in there encouraging the girls, "Do you want this win?" YES!!
The final score board showed the vast excitement of the Lancaster Women's Basketball Team.
The girls that played and the ones on the bench all were thankful that they could represent their school and win!!!
Here are the girls and Coach Steve with their medals for winning the Cup. Do you think they are excited?
Yep!!!!
Referee Mansoor had officiated all our home games. He encouraged the girls and let them know of their integrity in the game and he was proud of them, even if he had given them fouls during the season:)
Now we have a small break, but need to get ready for the 'War of the Roses,' which is Lancaster University (red rose) against York University (yellow rose) in May.
This game was the final game to win the Conference. Liverpool University played with intensity but still didn't have as much desire to win the game in comparison to our Lancaster girls.
Toward the end of the game Coach Steve wanted them to slow the game down. At the buzzer, right at the end of the game, Damla shot a basket from 3-point range and "made it!!!!"
What excitement at the end of the game.... You can see the final score for Lancaster was 67 and Liverpool 46.
After the game Coach Steve congratulated the girls on their performance. If you had ever seen such excited girls it was the Lancaster Women's Basketball team!!!
Can you tell how excited they were? Even the coach got into the craziness of the photo!! From my perspective, it was a sweet victory!!
Congrats girls!!!!
The bus ride to Sheffield was about 1 hour 45 minutes. We arrived with just a small amount of time to get changed and practice for about 10 minutes.
Before the game was to start, Steve gave his strategic plans for the game. The girls have the intent on wanting to win.
Sheffield definitely had a good defense, but we did tire them out with all the running up and down the court.
The final score at the end of the game, Lancaster 75 and Sheffield 39.
The excitement of the girls winning this semi-final game was quite evident!!! They will be playing the final next month!!!
GREAT JOB GIRLS!!!
Upon arrival at Bangor University in South Wales, we had to wait about an hour before we could get into the gym, as there was a class being conducted. Referees can't, but love my husband. Oh.... we're in the middle of the game.
What an exciting game!! The last time we played them we defeated them badly, so they were prepared for us.
Deborah and Damla stepped it up and brought the ball back into play. In the second half, we suffered with lots of fouls, but it didn't deter the points going on the board.
A time out gave the girls time to regroup. To the left of the photo you see a gentleman named Arnot. He's been doing stats and enjoys coming to away games. It does help that he's Damla's boyfriend:)
The final on the score board showed we won by 31 points,
Lancaster 69 and Bangor 38. It definitely made the 3 hour bus ride back to campus nicer. Some of the girls did admit they could improve and that's a great attitude!!!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, ....a bit tense, a bit nervous.......!!!! Lancaster University Girls Basketball team had the challenge of competing against Liverpool University, whom we lost to before Christmas 2012. Had they improved enough to beat them on home court? By the way Claire, with pen in hand did the stats for the game.
Several fans came early for the game. Sorry :( .....didn't get a photo when the court was packed.
With a little bit of fuzz, you can still get the idea the game was intense. At the half the score was Lancaster 33 and Liverpool 20. So far so good!
The girls definitely were determined to win this game!!!!
Now! If you know me well, I can bite
my fingernails to the bone with such an intense game. Even though Liverpool did have the thought that they could easily win over Lancaster, we did prove them wrong. Do you see Steve? He's up in the air, with all the girls when they were jumping up and down after the win. Some of their shots, we think...... were guided by God. Why? Because it couldn't have happened any other way:)
This is the final score. Yes!! We did tire Liverpool out and our shots went in, especially Vas's shot at the end of the 3rd quarter. Wow!!! All the girls got to put their effort into winning this game.
GREAT TEAM WORK GIRLS!!!
Having a birthday party with the basketball girls was a total delight :)
We all dug into the meal and enjoyed the company together!!!
