CMC75 Moments: 2014 Women's Basketball Wins Final Game at Ducey, Takes SCIAC Title
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
2014 Women's Basketball: Athenas Take SCIAC Semi in OT in Last Game at Ducey
CMS Women's Basketball had historically always been a SCIAC contender, with six championships and 13 runner-up finishes heading into the decade of the 2010s. Since a title in 2004 and three straight second-place finishes from 2005-07, the program had hit a little bit of a lull, dropping down to sixth in 2012-13 with a 9-16 record, under first-year head coach Kristen Dowling, although the team showed some promise, including a big home win over Chapman, which finished in second place.
The 2013-14 team, though, turned that promise of potential into immediate success, improving by an impressive 15 wins and earning a 24-4 final record and a 14-2 SCIAC mark to tie for first with Chapman, clinching a share of the regular season title with a road win over Cal Lutheran. The Athenas earned a home game in the SCIAC Semifinals, which would be the final women's game ever played in Ducey Gymnasium.
CMS closed the building with a win, but it took some bonus basketball as the Athenas came back from a 10-point deficit in the second half and then twice needed to erase two-point deficits in the final minute of regulation, with Chloe Dobbert tying the game at 61-61, and then Kimberly Scamman went coast to coast to tie it 63-63 to send it to overtime:
Scamman then scored 11 of the 13 CMS points in the extra session to give the Athenas a 76-72 win to send them through to the finals, finishing with 25 points, to go with 26 from Madeline Barnes. CMS would have no drama in the finals, defeating Chapman again, but this time with higher stakes, rolling to a 78-60 win for the SCIAC title and sending the Athenas back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years.
Scamman and Barnes were both named first-team All-SCIAC for CMS, which would go on to make four consecutive NCAA appearances, defeating Trinity in the opening round in 2016 and Texas-Dallas in the first round in 2017.
Shelby Barthold:
I definitely remember that game and that game was easily one of my favorite moments. One important detail I specifically remember is that it was a packed house and definitely our most attended game ever. We never got the attendance I thought we deserved until that day.
I also wanted to share another good game memory, but this one was for a different game and season. It was the previous season ('12-'13) when we played Chapman at home. That season was our first season with Coach Dowling and we had very few players that season so it was a tough season and everyone had to work hard to keep up with all the other teams. Our home game vs Chapman (1/10/13) was the first time our programs met since Chapman joined SCIAC and I also believe there was some history/rivalry between our programs that predates my time there. It had been many years since our program last beat Chapman (2003). The game went down to the wire, but we pulled out the win! I think that game really helped us believe in ourselves despite our small team (both in numbers and height) and new format because of our new coach. While we didn't end that season with a great record, I really believe that was a significant game in our time there.
2014 Women's Basketball Roster
Head Coach: Kristen Dowling
Assistant Coaches: Anthony Mason, Chelsea Stocks
Maddie Barnes (Sr., G, Scripps)
Shelby Barthold (Sr., G, CMC)
Kris Brackmann (Fr., G, CMC)
Chloe Dobbert (Sr., C, CMC)
Claire Donnelly (Fr., G, CMC)
Jai Dungca (Fr., G, CMC)
Chanthal Evett (Fr., G, CMC)
Mara Falahee (So., F, Scripps)
Quinn Glosniak (Fr., F, CMC)
Sarah King (Sr., F, CMC)
Lauren Mott (Fr., C, CMC)
Kyra Ray (Sr., G, Scripps)
Cameron Ruby (Sr., G, CMC)
Kimberly Scamman (Jr., G, CMC)
Shaina Van Stryk (Fr., G, Scripps)
Tyler Wheetley-Amaya (Fr., G, CMC)
Alyson Young (Fr., C, CMC)