A snowstorm was raging outside and there was no running water inside, but everyone in Leede Arena was focused on the drama being played out on centercourt.
Going strictly by the numbers, Tuesday's game against the 5-12 Albany squad should have been easy for the 8-6 Big Green. Coming off of two big Ivy wins last weekend, Dartmouth should have come out ready to dominate.
Maybe it was the storm, or maybe it was because the team hadn't played in 10 days. Whatever the reason, the defending Ivy champs were slow to realize that they would have to play hard to defeat the physical, aggressive Great Danes.
Neither team seemed willing to step up the level of play as the lead flip-flopped between the two squads throughout the first half.
Many of the Big Green's freshmen saw playing time in the first half, including a promising performance by guard Keri Downs '03. However, Albany's intensely physical style of play seemed to intimidate some of the newcomers.
Albany seemed to sense that the Big Green was not playing at its fullest, and took advantage. They began grabbing rebounds and kept on answering back whenever Dartmouth scored.
Towards the end of the half, the Green began to pick up their play under the leadership of captains Liz Martin '00 and Courtney Banghart '00. Banghart's four treys in the half kept Dartmouth alive as they staggered into halftime with a one-point lead.
The rebounding skills of Katharine Hanks '03 were sorely missed in the first half, as she posted only one board. However, she began to show more of a presence in the paint during the second frame.
Dartmouth's play as a whole during the second half improved slowly but surely. A foul-prone Albany faltered, and the Big Green was able to convert Great Dane mistakes into points at the charity stripe.
The foul shots helped Dartmouth greatly in the second frame, as did a more active and effective defense and an increased rebounding effort.
Banghart and Martin made up the backbone of the Big Green's effort, as they chipped in 22 and 13 points respectively with Banghart converting six of 12 treys. The duo paced the energy of the team, challenging the younger players to think and play more efficiently.
Also, turning in solid performances were Stephanie Kinnear '01 and Sherryta Freeman '01.
The Big Green finally secured a comfortable lead over Albany with about four minutes left to play, after an 8-2 run. The Great Danes attempted to come back, but time was against them and the game ended a Dartmouth victory, 65-57.
Dartmouth faces SUNY-Stony Brook this Saturday at home. Although the Big Green starts up Ivy play again in a week, the team needs to learn its lesson from this Albany game and not overlook the underdog.
