2008 Woodie Awards
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
Patrick Swafford
Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Sports
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"To me, it was just so sick," Becky Carpenetti said. "It was like a sickening feeling in your stomach just watching this team celebrate on your field of all places. It made me sick to my stomach."
After finishing 42-16 overall and 24-6 in the OVC last year, the Gamecocks dropped the championship game to Tennessee State, sending the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament.
"I just wanted to leave," senior Megan Jezerski said. "I didn't want to watch them get their shirts. I just wanted them to have a box handed to them, get on the bus and go home. I didn't want them walking on our field, getting our stuff. It should have been ours."
JSU's coach, Jana McGinnis knows a thing or two about winning. As a basketball player at Jacksonville State, McGinnis helped the team to a 98-22 record in her four years at JSU, and in 1991, led JSU to a Gulf South Conference championship and the NCAA Division II South Region title. She is one of two Lady Gamecocks to have their numbers retired. The other is her twin sister, Dana. This past fall, both sisters were inducted into the JSU Hall of Fame.
"Even though we were champions last year, we were champions that ended with a bad taste," McGinnis said. "We didn't win the tournament. We didn't finish and we're focusing on finishing this year and going to what I call 'Big Time.' That's the NCAA Tournament."
The Gamecocks return 11 players from last year's squad, which set a school record for most wins in a season. This has them poised to repeat as OVC Champions.
"I think it was because of the players we have returning that we got the number one prediction," McGinnis said. "It's nice to know that you have some of your top players returning."