For Bets, Brando, Stuckles and Wilsa, Leede Arena is now just a memory.
These four seniors, also known as Betsy Gilmore, Brandi Jones, Laurie Stucker and Ilsa Webeck, played their last two games at home this weekend.
Unfortunately, Brown's outside shooting enabled it to defeat the Big Green, 65-59. On Saturday night, however, Dartmouth came back and defeated Yale, 64-59.
Dartmouth's record is now 9-2 in the Ivies, good for a first-place tie with Harvard, with three games remaining.
The team travels to Cornell and Columbia next weekend and finishes the season at Harvard on March 7.
Dartmouth 59, Brown 65
Friday night's loss to Brown snapped the Big Green's seven-game winning streak and dropped the team back into a first-place tie with Harvard.
Brown jumped out early on the Big Green, outshooting them badly and out-rebounding them 26-15 in the first half to take a 35-22 lead at the break.
"Brown's shooting from the perimeter was excellent," Coach Chris Wielgus said. "We didn't shoot well, perhaps because we were unlucky, perhaps because of our fatigue. Whatever the reason, Brown has been to the NCAA's and also beaten Harvard, and they are a great team."
"All week at practice we were concentrating on beating Brown's inside game. Unfortunately, we weren't in the mind set of watching the outside shooters. That's why we suffered," Webeck said.
Dartmouth's defense limited Brown's All-American candidate Martina Jerant '95 to eight points and nine rebounds in the game, but guard Tammy Sanchez '95 exploded with 25 points and freshman guard Liz Turner had a surprising 13.
Dartmouth came back after the break looking to narrow the gap. Although they were somewhat successful, Brown kept hitting their shots, and Dartmouth kept missing.
Dartmouth trailed by more than 10 points for almost the entire second half. The first five times the Big Green narrowed the gap to 10, Brown came right back to make it a dozen.
With 2:30 left to go in the game, Sally Annis '97 followed a Bess Tortolani '98 three pointer with a seven-foot jumper to edge Dartmouth within eight points of Brown, 58-50. But the shot did not spark the Dartmouth offense.
Eventually the Big Green were forced to foul the Bears, but to no avail.
Dartmouth made a final run at the Brown when Annis drained a long range three-pointer to trim the Brown lead to 53-47 with under a minute to play.
But Dartmouth's three-pointers didn't fall down the stretch, and Brown held on for the victory.
Dartmouth 64, Yale 59
It was not going to happen twice.
Starting off the night with the senior presentation, the four seniors were honored, and their parents stood next to them on the court. The fans cheered for them, the coaches beamed and the team knew one thing:
This was not a night to lose.
Although they fell to the Bears Friday night, the Big Green were determined to fight back against Yale. Dartmouth's shooting was on target and, as usual, the team played unbeatable defense.
"When we played Yale we had our minds on the game," Webeck said.
Dartmouth led from the beginning, and raced out to a 37-23 advantage at halftime. Jones limited Yale's star shooter Mary Kalich to a mere six points in the first half.
"Kalich is one of the most outstanding guards in the League. Brandi Jones deserves all the credit for shutting her down. Brandi is one of the toughest defenders out there and she really rose to the occasion," Wielgus said.
"Our shots were falling tonight and that's why we won," Jones said. "Kalich couldn't hit any of her shots in the first half, and in the second half she couldn't miss. I knew that she was a great player and once she gets on fire, she plays really well. I liked the challenge, it makes me play better."
"Our shots were falling tonight and that's why we won," Jones said.
Jones hit her 68th career three-pointer in the game, tying the school record set by Tara Burke '93.
Gilmore became Dartmouth's all-time assist leader with six minutes left in the first half, surpassing Ute Bowman '90 who held the previous record of 396. Gilmore had 10 assists and seven rebounds in the game.
Several Big Green players scored in double figures. Stamp had 15 points and five rebounds, Annis had 11 points, Webeck had 17 points and eight rebounds.The four seniors said they will miss playing in Leede Arena.
"I'm glad this isn't the last game of the season, or else it would've been more emotional for me," Stucker said. "We now have to concentrate on winning our next three games."
"I'm glad we played well at home, especially for the last time," Webeck said. "We really appreciate all the support -- from the students, fans and the band."
"There was a really nice crowd and the fans are great as always, whether we win or lose. It's nice to know that we have more to the season than tonight, too," Gilmore said.
"It was sad playing for the last time in this gym, but I am ready to move on," Jones said. "I have so many memories of this Arena that will stay with me forever."
