Messenger - Vol. 1, No. 3, Page 12 Spring 1992 Scoreboard Winter athletic roundup Men's basketball (27-4, 14-0 North Atlantic Conference (NAC), NAC Champions, NCAA Tournament) Blue Hen men's basketball head coach Steve Steinwedel called it a "once in a lifetime" season. And it was. The Blue Hens electrified fans all season long: Winning a school record 27 games, including 20 straight wins at one point, shattering attendance records, going 14-0 in NAC play and sweeping through the NAC playoffs with a 92-68 win over Drexel at Delaware Field House before a live national television audience on ESPN. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history before falling to Final Four participant Cincinnati. More than 50 school records were set in the process. Senior forward Alex Coles (14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) was named first-team, All-NAC and NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player; senior guard Mark Murray (13.9 ppg) also earned first-team, All-NAC recognition; and 6-2 freshman sensation Brian Pearl (10.5 ppg, 4.5 assists per game) was named NAC Rookie of the Year. Starters Anthony Wright (11.3 ppg) and 6-11 Spencer Dunkley (10.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, school record 44 blocked shots) and top reserves Denard Montgomery (7.2, 5.2 rpg) and Ricky Deadwyler (7.6 ppg, 38 three-pointers) also played key roles in making 1991-92 the greatest season in U.D. basketball history. Women's basketball (15-14, 7-7 NAC) The women's basketball team also excelled in its first year in the NAC, posting the team's fifth straight winning season (15-14) under head coach Joyce Perry. The team was led by NAC Co-Player of the Year, 5 foot-11 inch senior forward Jennifer Riley (16.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg); and NAC Rookie of the Year, 6 foot-1 inch freshman center Colleen McNamara (11.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 blocks per game). The Blue Hens defeated Boston University 77-75 in the quarterfinals before falling to NCAA tournament participant Vermont 82-66 in the semifinals. Women's swimming (8-4, second place NAC Championships) It was also a banner year in the water. The women's swimming team posted an 8-4 dual record and finished a strong second at the NAC championships hosted by Delaware Feb. 28-March 1 at the Harry Rawstrom Pool. Led by NAC Coach of the Year John Hayman, the team set seven school records at the NAC meet with junior Chris Helondovitch leading the way. Helondovitch placed first in the 50 freestyle (U.D. and NAC record time of 24.52) and teamed with Liz Wilson, Rachel Berkowitz and Kim Castellanos to win the 800 freestyle relay (U.D. and NAC record 7:52.71) and with Castellanos, Wilson and Liz Coogan to win the 400 freestyle relay (U.D. and NAC record 3:34.93). The Hens also finished second with school record times in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.93) and the 200 medley relay (1:52.02). Individually, Castellanos placed second in the 200 backstroke with a U.D. record 2:09.57, while Helondovitch was second in the 100 freestyle with a record time of 53.44. Men's swimming (5-7, second place NAC Championships) The U.D. men swimmers also had plenty to cheer about this winter, placing second in the NAC championships, which they hosted Feb. 28-March 1 at Harry Rawstrom Pool. The Hens won just one event, the 200 medley relay team of Mike Brown, Andy Palmer, Pete Holcroft and Clint Tracy in a NAC record time of 1:35.02, but it was depth that led the squad. Palmer placed second individually in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes; Tracy was second in the 50 freestyle; and the 400 medley relay team of Pat Mead, Palmer, Steve Blanchard and Holcroft also placed second. Women's indoor track and field (7-2, fourth place NAC Championships) Head coach Susan McGrath-Powell's women's indoor track squad posted its 13th straight winning season with a 7-2 dual mark, placing fourth at the NAC championships. Blue Hen records include four by junior Jill Riblett in the 800 meters (2:18.05), 1,000 meters (2:54.47), 1,500 meters (4:46.10) and in the two-mile relay (9:35.14) with Amy Oppermann, Mary Caceres and Marnie Giunta. Riblett earned All-East honors by placing fourth in the 1,000 meters at the ECAC meet at Syracuse. Men's indoor track and field (11-2, third place NAC Championships) Head coach Jim Fischer's squad posted a third-place finish at the NAC championships Feb. 22 in Boston, capping another strong season by the Blue Hens who posted their 18th straight .500 or better dual meet season with an 11-2 mark. Long jumper Rob Graham was virtually unbeatable in his event as he won the NAC title (23-8) and also placed first in the Delaware Open and Delaware Invitational. Other NAC champions for the Hens were high jumper Bob Bechtold (6-7 1/2) and Tim Jacobs in the 55-meter dash (6.43). Graham and Jacobs established new school records in their events. -Scott Selheimer