Fansided

NCAA Women’s Basketball: Poor officiating costs Drury Lady Panthers shot at title

By Neil Harrington

07 Apr 2013: Drury University fans cheer against Metro State University during the Division II Men's Basketball Championship held at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Drury defeated Metro State 74-73 to win the national title. Peter Lockley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images.
07 Apr 2013: Drury University fans cheer against Metro State University during the Division II Men's Basketball Championship held at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Drury defeated Metro State 74-73 to win the national title. Peter Lockley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images. /
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It seems like everyone is frustrated with the NCAA right now. An epic women’s basketball Division II level has plenty of reason to be upset.

The 2018 NCAA tournament Selection Show two days ago, with snubs of Mid Majors such as Middle Tennesee and St. Mary’s, always brings allegations of bias. Things aren’t any better at the Division II level, displayed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional finals matchup between the top-ranked Ashland Lady Eagles from Ohio, and the third-ranked Drury Lady Panthers out of Springfield, Missouri.

Ashland and their head coach Robyn Fralick won 70 straight games coming into the game, with their last loss two seasons ago to Drury in the Sweet 16. A de facto national title game, with Ashland boasting a 33-0 record and Drury a 31-2 mark, was projected to be the marquee matchup of the tournament.

And it was; until the officials took over the game when it mattered most. The Sweet 16 wasn’t so sweet for the Drury Lady Panthers, who were denied an Elite 8 berth due to horrendous officiating.

For most of the game, Ashland’s pressure defense flustered Drury, but, the Panthers toughness helped them overcome a double-digit second-half deficit. The Panthers averaged just 17 turnovers per game but committed 26 in last night’s contest.

However, the Lady Panthers went on a 15-3 run to tie the game at 71 late. Then, with under 30-seconds remaining, a phantom foul called was called on the Lady Panthers. Expressing her displeasure, coach Molly Miller stomped her foot, with the officials whistling her for a technical foul.

It wasn’t anything disrespectful, just a mild stomp out of frustration over a questionable call. The Lady Eagles sunk four free throws, retained possession, then hit two more, icing the game in the process — winning 79-73.The Lady Panthers shot two free throws the entire game, while the Lady Eagles made 20-22 gifts from the stripe. Regarding aggressiveness and the gameplan by both teams, that number should’ve been MUCH closer.

If you look at every other statistical category, you would think that Drury won this game going away. But, the officials appeared to give the edge to Ashland with those shaky calls, who took advantage of their generosity.

Also, why in the world did a team who’s 31-2 and ranked in the top three, end up playing on the road and not hosting? The O’Reilly Family Event Center, the “O,” deserves to be the venue for the Lady Panthers and their first NCAA women’s basketball tournament games.

Back to the game itself. An epic battle between two elite teams, ruined, due to shaky calls. Change needs to happen, and officiating needs a significant upgrade. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer, but maybe if we work together, we can discover the secret. Using robots and computers may be the way to go. Why not?

Next: 5 biggest snubs on Selection Sunday

On behalf of the underdogs across the globe, we feel for you Coach Molly Miller and the Drury Lady Panthers. You deserve better than this, and we know who the real MVP is of Division II women’s basketball. Keep your heads up, and maybe next season you’ll be able actually to host an NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament regional — like you deserve — and maybe the calls will even out in the process.