Lady Cougars Remarkable Comeback Season

The UC Clermont Lady Cougars 2007-2008 season set an incredible precedent by turning around from 27 defeats in the 2006-07 season to posting 27 wins this season to finish 27-11. 

First time accomplishments for the Lady Cougars included a second place finish (16-2) in the regular season Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) and ORCC Tournament and an invitation to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament in Broken Arrow, Okla.  

"It was absolutely an incredible year and so rewarding for a coaching staff that has worked so hard to build a winning program over the past seven years," said Mike Mathews, head coach for the women’s basketball team. "The tremendous effort by the 14 special girls who played through a multitude of injuries has changed this program probably forever. They deserve all the accolades."  

The Lady Cougars garnered the No. 8 seed in the USCAA National Tournament after being rated No. 2 nationally most of the season until injuries took their toll. “The women played hard in their inaugural invitation to the national tournament,” said Matthews. 

UC Clermont lost to Briar Cliffe College, Bronx, N.Y. (53-78), beat Rhema Bible College, Rhema, Okla (57-51), and lost to Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, Vt. (79-74).  Their efforts placed the Lady Cougars tenth in the nation.

The UC Clermont women were very balanced in scoring throughout the year with Rachel  Brewer (St. Ursula High School) leading the way with 12.4 points a game.  Katie Ely (Reading High School), a two time USCAA All-American averaged 9.6 pts while Jordan Johnson (Clermont Northeastern) 9.2, and Darlene Carroll (Amelia HS) added 8.9 points a game each for the season.

"With almost everyone returning next year and several blue chip recruits committed -- the outlook for next season is very promising.  We should be fun to watch and a community basketball fan favorite," Matthews added.