By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)
RYE, N.Y. — The season is over and in the books.
Call it what you will: Landmark, historic, exceptional, unprecedented, this much is certain, that FDU’s Northeast Conference women’s basketball championship is one that was truly memorable, or better, unforgettable.
The Knights celebrated their perfect conference season Wednesday evening at the Westchester Country Club. The coaching staff, team, FDU marketing and media relations departments, administrators, as well as invited guests, were there to recall the season just finished.
Coach Stephanie Gaitley’s husband, Frank, with a wealth of Philadelphia basketball stories and a fixture in the baseline bleachers near the FDU bench at each game, was in attendance. Gaitley’s sister, Coco, who played for FDU in the Rutherford campus days and her husband, Bruce Lefkowitz, a Hall of Fame player at Penn, were on hand as well. Friends Ted Ferraro and Jill Shapiro from Gaitley’s Monmouth and Fordham days, respectively, also attended.
A few insights from some of those who were part of this superb campaign:
Annie Carlile, graduate assistant coach:
“It was an incredible experience. I was so lucky to be a part of it. I’ve never seen a team with so much camaraderie as these girls have. I wouldn’t say there was a hint (of a perfect run), but just the way the girls came back and the leadership we had was almost inevitable. They deserved it and put in the time to earn it.”
Jeremy Thompson, assistant coach:
“I think Coach Gaitley, in the last two years, has turned this program into a real contender. I think the expectations are we continue winning and put a pretty competitive culture on the floor. She has put us in a position to win every single time we are out there.”
Ty Rozier, assistant coach and WBCA 30 Under 30 honoree:
“I knew we had a special group of kids. The bond these kids had was something you do not feel with a lot of other teams. I knew we had a chance to change the narrative of what we did last year. Our first year was implementing a lot of foundations. I knew with everyone back, and adding new pieces, that we could go far. Did I expect an undefeated season? No one expects that, but what we view is progress over process over results. We got better every day, but let the results speak for themselves.”
Abaigeal Babore, graduate guard and NEC All-Defensive Team selection:
“Last year, we built the foundation. We returned so many players. We just needed a few extra pieces and I think (freshman guards) Ava (Renninger) and Kailee (McDonald) provided that. I think everyone in the locker room felt we could do this.”
Babore, who played alongside Hannah Hidalgo in high school, also spoke about facing Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith the past two seasons.
“It’s just been really fun to challenge ourselves in trying to compete with some of the best players,” she said. “It was a challenge for me because most of the time, I was guarding them and having played with Hannah, it gave me more insight to see the work that they put in. It gives me more respect.”
Ava Renninger, freshman guard. NEC Rookie of the Year and third team All-Met selection:
“The coaching staff for sure. I like that it’s close to the city, but not in the city, but mainly the coaching staff and teammates like this. I love every single one of them and they made me feel welcomed. Ang (Szumilo) had offered me my junior year, then when Coach Gaitley came in, she offered me as well. The coaches here really believed in me. (FDU) was my only (Division I) offer in high school. I knew we were going to be good, but being undefeated is a hard thing to do. We just played every game this season like it could be our last game and it all worked out. The coaches pushed us every day. Sometimes we didn’t like it, but they pushed us because they knew what we were capable of.”
Abby Conklin, senior guard:
“Every time we closed out a close game, it felt like we were getting close to winning a championship. I really want to go into coaching. College or high school, anything. I would love to do that to have an impact on someone’s life.”
Jessica Simmonds, assistant coach:
“It was really amazing. It still hasn’t hit for sure. This was just a beautiful team with everyone and people behind the scenes all working together.”
Simmonds believes a snub, not having Teneisia Brown get selected as NEC Player of the Year, was crucial.
“I think that affected everyone in our locker room,” Simmonds said. “We all took that as an oversight, and that sent us into the NEC Tournament with a great determination and incentive.”
Brown, the senior center, NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP, spoke of player development and incentive.
“Coach Jess worked with me on my inside game,” she said. “Even when I got tired of doing the same move over and over, we kept doing it. The coaches had confidence, telling me, ‘you can shoot it.’ Once they gave me the green light, they kept reminding me that if you have the shot, take it. I showed more and more in the games because I did it in practice.”
Brown agreed with Simmonds’ comment of motivation for not getting selected as NEC Player of the Year.
“I am not a selfish player, but I felt it was good motivation to get the championship,” she said.
Stephanie Gaitley, NEC Coach of the Year:
“I think we’ll go down as the best team in FDU history. It wasn’t about the talent or X’s and O’s. It was about everyone selflessly doing anything for each other. I think that’s where we separate ourselves. One through 16, they would do anything for each other and that made it so special. I feel like I gotta pinch myself because it doesn’t seem real, but Frank always reminds me when they were saying, ‘you didn’t lose for three months.’ It really hit me. Three months. It’s crazy when you think of that. It’s been a year to remember for sure.”
December 11.
That was the date of the last FDU loss prior to the TCU matchup in the NCAA Tournament. Throughout the evening Gaitley pointed out the team’s four losses were all to Power 5 schools: Syracuse, eventual national champion UConn, Rutgers, and TCU. It was also mentioned by the coaching staff several times during the evening that had FDU played Rutgers in Syracuse later in the season, those outcomes would be different. Regardless, it was a remarkable run going three-plus months without a blemish on the record.
Brad Hurlbut, FDU athletic director:
“This means so much. Men’s basketball did something special two years ago but what our women did, to go undefeated, we’ve never done that before. In the sense of community, it was truly something I’ve never felt before. Just to see the crowds grow as we kept winning and see more people wanting to be involved, not just our fans but our sponsorships, it kept our FDU name in the national spotlight like two seasons ago.”
The 15th seed in the Big Dance and the excitement of seeing FDU on the board on Selection Sunday, playing TCU in the NCAA Tournament were common themes among players and coaches attending. Accolades included finishing 15th in College Insider’s final women’s mid-major poll, the school’s first NEC women’s basketball championship since 1992, and a well-deserved contract extension for Gaitley. The two-hour reception, including individual awards and recognition, lasted beyond the allotted time. No one wanted the celebration and enjoyment of sharing everyone’s company to end. There was frequent mention of togetherness and teammates showing respect and love for one another, culminating in this wonderful season. Another point hit home.
Some students choose to be educators to follow the lead of an influential teacher. Without inquiring, several interviewed voluntarily mentioned their desire to coach.
Graduate assistant Annie Carlile works with Billy Armstrong’s Hoop Dreamz AAU program in the offseason, and soon hopes to secure a high school head coaching position. Abby Conklin, as noted, aspires to enter coaching at any level. Abby Babore plans to enter education and start coaching by working with her dad, Guido, to instruct grade-school players just learning the game. Stephanie Gaitley has proven to be an outstanding coach and educator to these young women. For them to want to follow Gaitley’s lead and desire to continue in that same path speaks volumes.
That is the culmination of FDU’s perfect season.
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