When St. Peter’s College women’s basketball team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship once again last March and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament, there were some fears that it could be the Peahens’ final journey for what became a great run.
After all, the Peahens were set to lose four seniors from last year’s spectacular season, especially starters Felicia Harris and Sue Porter.
However, things got unexpectedly worse for veteran head Coach Mike Granelli, who entered the 2002-2003 season just 23 wins shy of the impressive 600-win milestone. One player, talented freshman Tyiana Sears, lost her eligibility due to academic difficulties. Another, fine center Tanesha Seaton, had to take a year off due to maternity leave.
"We planned for what we were going to lose to graduation," said veteran Assistant Billy McKeever, a warhorse with more than 40 years of coaching basketball in Hudson County. "We never thought of losing the other two. We signed guards to replace the people graduating. We thought we had two players 6-2 coming back. When it happened so late, we couldn’t find anyone available. It just happened at the wrong time."
It forced the veteran coaching duo of Granelli and McKeever, along with Assistant Stephanie DeWolfe, to scramble a bit to find players. It also meant that the returning players, like Jersey City native Natasha Philip, were going to have to step up their game.
Taking on a tough challenge is nothing new to Philip, who has had to battle adversity since she was a kid. She went to Lincoln High School and played basketball there, but in virtual obscurity.
Told by some that she wasn’t talented enough to play major college basketball, Philip was resigned to playing at a lower level even though she was the Most Valuable Player of the Hudson-Essex All-Star Classic four years ago, outplaying many girls who were headed to NCAA Division I basketball.
"Everything has been a challenge to me," said Philip, who enrolled at St. Peter’s College and tried to make the women’s basketball team as a walk-on, certain that she could play at their level. "I live off challenges. When everyone else doubts me, well, that just puts more fire inside of me. I know anything can get done if I put my mind to it."
Philip has been used to the role of being an underdog, so when she worked her way up the Peahens’ depth chart to where she played a vital role, especially as a defensive stopper, on last year’s MAAC Championship team, everyone might have been amazed, but Philip always believed in her abilities.
Now, the 5-foot 4-inch junior guard is faced with yet another challenge – playing a bigger role with the Peahens, being more of a scorer than just a defensive stopper, seeing her playing time more than double.
"I kind of expected it, because of all the people we lost," Philip said. "I had to focus on becoming more of a factor than just being a role player. It was kind of scary at first, because I wasn’t used to it. But I worked hard over the summer on my shooting and offensive game to get ready."
Faced with the dilemma of not having many tall players, Philip has had to learn how to play taller than her 5-4 frame.
"I think we all have had to do that," Philip said. "I don’t think there’s any pressure in that. You just have to go out there and play. I’ve actually had to play bigger than what I am in the past, so I think I can step up to the challenge."
Speaking for Granelli, who was away for personal reasons, McKeever said that Philip has been a bright spot for the Peahens, who have played aggressively, despite losing their first two games of the season to Holy Cross and the University of Massachusetts.
"Natasha is a tough kid," McKeever said. "She’s a regular pain in the rear. She’s one of our better defenders and rebounders, even at 5-4. She just has to give us more offense this year. Once she starts to make a few shots, then she’s going to be fine."
The Peahens will look to point guard Lindsay Gonzalez to lead the way this year. Center Anna Barthold has been a pleasant surprise in the first two games.
But the little-known underdog from Jersey City is going to have a huge role with the Peahens this season, just like she envisioned she would some four years ago.
"I have confidence in my teammates that we will all improve," Philip said. "I think we just need to get more of a feel of the game together. Our losses so far have been because of inexperience. We’ll get better. I know we’re up to the challenge."
— Jim Hague