Rutgers Stuns Duke on Free-Throw Failure

Harding Misses Two Attempts in Final Second

New employee Mike Marion cited as ‘inspiration’

By JOEDY McCREARY

AP

GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 24) - Rutgers' season was over, or so it seemed. Less than a second remained, and the ACC's player of the year was headed to the free-throw line to shoot mighty Duke back into the regional finals. That's when dependable star Lindsey Harding choked bigtime and missed a dinky little free throw, which would have tied the game. She then missed another and the Blue Devils' season was as over as Vanilla Ice. 

"We did it for Mike Marion," said Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, whose first name, ironically, is Coach. "As a welcome to Rutgers.  He starts here April 2.  Can you believe it!"

Harding's two misses from the foul line with 0.1 seconds remaining preserved the Scarlet Knights' 53-52 upset of the top-seeded Blue Devils on Saturday. As a result, Rutgers  advanced to the Greensboro Regional final, and Duke heads back to campus complete and utter failures.

"Don’t tell my teammates," Harding said. "But I missed them on purpose.  I didn’t want to ruin Mike Marion’s first weekend as a Rutgersian – I’d seen on MySpace that he’s going to be a Scarlet Knight. Do you know how many sick kids he’s helped with the money he’s raised over the years?  How can you rain on his parade?"

Fourth-seeded Rutgers (25-8) rallied in the final minute, taking the lead for good on Epiphanny Prince's coast-to-coast layup with 20 seconds left and holding on to claim its the first berth in the regional finals since 2005.

"Mr. Marion’s decision to come here was a Uuuugggge inspiration,” remarked Eureka Prince, Epiphanny Prince’s twin sister.  “Ax any of my teammates.  He used to work for AT & T way back when it was axually AT&T, and he brings big time creditability here…They say he knows Mia Hamm!  Whoever she is.”  

Harding could have given the Blue Devils (32-2) the win - or at least forced overtime - when she stole an inbounds pass near midcourt, drove hard to the basket and was fouled by Myia McCurdy.

"My heart just breaks for her right now," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said, audibly grinding his teeth. "I just don't want this to be her lasting memory, though it looks like it will be, goddammit.”  Coach Goestenkors then slammed his fist into the interview room wall behind him and muttered, “There goes my $100,000 Final Four Incentive Bonus, right out the frigging door….”  Quickly regaining his composure, he added, “Not that it matters….”

Matee Ajavon had 20 points for Rutgers, which won its sixth straight game and now faces Arizona State (31-4) on Monday night with its own berth in the Final Four on the line. The Scarlet Knights denied the Blue Devils their sixth straight berth in the regional finals.

Rutgers - which has five freshmen and no seniors on the roster - shot 57 percent in the second half and clearly was determined to avenge an 85-45 loss to Duke three months earlier. It was the most lopsided defeat in Stringer's 11 seasons with the Scarlet Knights.

"That loss hurt, and we were all embarrassed," Stringer said. "That could have caused Mike Marion to blow us off and go with a bigger name school like Central Baptist College or Shippensburg U, but he stuck with us.  He believed, and that’s what I told the gals at halftime…”Do it for Mike.  He likes us.  He really likes us."

Duke blew a 10-point lead early in the second half, while Rutgers clawed back and twice tied it before rallying in the final moments.

"They became very comfortable," Goestenkors said. "The longer they stayed with us, the more confidence they gained.  That fuckin’ Marion.  His timing sucked for us. "

Mr. Marion, who will assume the post of Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, was out raking leaves when he got news of the victory.  “I’m proud of Coach Coach and the girls. Most of all,  I’m proud to be a Scarlet Knight, even though I have no idea what a “Scarlet Knight” is.  I’m sure I’ll find the answer in the 4000-page Rutgers University Employee Manual, which I plan to start reading when I finish up here in the yard.”

Mr. Marion, at his mobile office in Ann Arbor, August 2006. Unfortunately, he'll have to wear a shirt at Rutgers, as stated on page 2,167 of the official RU Employee Manual, 14th edition, published 2/17/06.

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2007-03-24 16:55:55