AMHERST — LeFrak Gymnasium’s lights had barely flickered on.
The Amherst College women’s basketball team stretched before practice Tuesday while assistant coach and Amherst native Victoria Stewart shot free throws. Four men walked around the outer boundary of the gym, two carrying snow shovels and two wheeling snow blowers. It was 8 a.m., earlier than Amherst has practiced in coach G.P Gromacki’s 10-year tenure. Normally the team doesn’t start earlier than 9 a.m.
“This is too early, but it looks good so far,” he said. “Because of the storm we had to do it. It’s either go right now or don’t go at all.”
Snow isn’t obstructing Amherst’s path to the NCAA Division III Women’s Final Four. UMass-Dartmounth couldn’t, either. Neither could Babson, Mary Washington or Regis. Amherst has won 31 games in a row since losing in last season’s Final Four. The team is undefeated and has won by an average of 30 points per game. It has the top scoring defense in the nation, allowing just 40 points per game.
“Amherst as a program holds itself to a high standard,” junior Hannah Hackley said. “Coming in we know that we might have this opportunity. This is what we’re fighting for.”
Amherst is making its second consecutive trip to the Final Four and sixth overall. The team last won a national title in 2011.
“For all of us who were there last year it kind of left a bad taste in our mouth, but it was also a fun experience,” senior Jamie Renner said.
Amherst will face Christopher Newport (Newport News, Virginia) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“We’re working on them right now. I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on what they do,” Gromacki said. “They’re pretty athletic, they’ll press, they’ll run.”
Sam Porter leads a balanced Captains squad averaging 12.9 points and seven rebounds per game. Seven Christopher Newport players average at least five points per game.
“The benefit of this (Amherst) team is we’re able to adjust the way we play if we need to,” Gromacki said. “That’s why we’re unique to any team around the country.”
Amherst’s adaptability comes from familiarity. Eight players that contributed to last season’s Final Four team are on this year’s squad.
“I’m sure it helps to have more experience. We were pretty focused last year, but there were a lot of new experiences,” Renner said. “We didn’t know what to expect.”
Now Amherst knows what to expect. It has dedicated the entire season to getting back to the Final Four and winning a national title.
“They dedicated themselves to getting back here after last year’s loss in the Final Four. They haven’t let anything bother them,” Gromacki said. “Our goal before this season was to win the national championship, and they haven’t lost focus.”
TUFTS WAITING? – Amherst and Tufts have played each other six times in the past four years. The teams have split those meetings 3-3, but Amherst has won the last three, including two this year. A seventh game could be on the horizon if Amherst advances and Tufts beats St. Thomas (Minnesota) at 5 p.m.
“It’s always good to have a competitor in your division that we’re playing every year that feels like it’s getting more like a rivalry,” Renner said.
SULLIVAN HEALTHY THIS TIME AROUND – Granby native Meghan Sullivan was recovering from an ACL tear during last season’s Final Four. She traveled with the team to Columbus, Ohio, but couldn’t play. This season the sophomore is recovered and has seen her minutes load increase as the year has progressed. She’s played in 30 of the 31 games, starting two.
“It’s an incredible experience to be a part of and it’s what we’ve been working for all year and really for our whole basketball careers,” Sullivan said. “I can’t wait.”
HOMETOWN STAFF — Stewart, who walked-on at UMass, and fellow assistant Sam Hart are Amherst natives. Hart played football at Amherst College. Gromacki is from South Deerfield.