Empty nest for ECAC tournament
With just six players and no substitutes, Keene State’s Women’s Basketball team played an entire game without rest, and still nearly pulled off a win during its spring break tournament in Maryland.
For most college students, spring break means warm weather, vacations or time to relax. But for some of the Owls, it meant playing until their legs gave out.
The short-handed roster resulted from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament overlapping with spring break, forcing players to choose between competing and vacationing.
For those who remained, such as junior Captain Brynn Rautiola, the decision was simple.
“I mean, there were seven of us the first week and only six the second week,” Rautiola said. “We’re here–we might as well just give it our all and be happy we are still playing.”
Several players chose not to participate, while an unusual injury and family circumstances left Keene State with just six available athletes. Forced to adapt, the team pushed through exhaustion.
As soon as Keene State took the court, the contrast was clear. Across from them stood a full bench, while the Owls had less than half.
“We walked into the gym and they had like 18 kids on their team, and we got six,” Head Coach Keith Boucher said. “Their coach started asking about lineup changes… and I’m thinking, just look out on the court. What you see is what you get. This is it.”
The team’s already limited roster continued to shrink as the tournament progressed.
A family emergency reduced the already small lineup early, and in the quarter finals, another setback followed when starting Captain and sophomore point guard Ruby Dasaro suffered a broken nose after diving for a loose ball and hitting the floor.
“We lost her for the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, and they were pressuring us, which they should have because our starting point guard was out, but [first-year forward] Bella Schultz-Mitchell hit a three-pointer to tie it up, and then we won in overtime,” Boucher said.
Despite losing a key player late in the game, the Owls remained competitive throughout the tournament, falling just four points short in their final game against Brooklyn College.
The effort became evident late in the game when Keene State held a lead in the fourth quarter.
“We had a two-point lead in the fourth quarter, but they wore us down,” Boucher said. “Brynn handled the ball the whole game and had just two turnovers in 40 minutes, while Kylie played 40 minutes.”
After Rautiola missed a pair of free throws, Boucher pointed out that fatigue had taken its toll from playing the entire game. “She had no legs,” he said.
Boucher said the performance reflected a collective effort, even as fatigue set in late.
For Rautiola, being on the court wasn’t just about the game–it was a commitment.
“I wanted to be there,” Rautiola said. “For me, it wasn’t really an option. I was going no matter what, and I enjoyed it. It’s a great thing that Keene State does, and I think it’s something we should continue to do in the future.”
The team did not qualify for the NCAA tournament after losing in the semi-final round of the Little East Conference Championship. Boucher informed players of the decision to compete in the ECAC Tournament.
When the team learned it would continue its season following their conference tournament loss, Rautiola’s reaction was simple.
Boucher said the decision had been made earlier in the season, but was not immediately shared with players in order to maintain focus on the NCAA tournament.
“We didn’t want them to think we didn’t have a shot at the NCAA tournament, because we were in it right till then,” Boucher said.
After the team’s conference loss, Boucher informed the team.
“They were down because we lost and couldn’t play in the next game of the championship,” he said, “I told them, ‘Pick your heads up… It’s not over.’”
“Well, at least we still get to play. That’s all I was thinking,” said Rautiola. “As long as we get the chance to play another game, I’m cool if we only have five girls.”
Not all players were able to return for the tournament, as spring break plans limited availability.
Players who were unable to make it to the semi-finals did not receive playing time in the quarterfinal game, as the rotation prioritized those available for the full ECAC run, according to team manager Owen Morrissey. Those who had not seen much playing time throughout the season were able to play meaningful minutes in the tournament.
According to Morrissey, the tournament’s timing contributed to how the team managed its rotation.
“After we finished the LEC [Little East Conference] tournament, we were told we were doing the ECAC tournament. I’m not sure the whole team knew about it, and a lot of players had already booked spring trips,” said Morrissey. “Coach decided that players who were not going to be able to come to Maryland wouldn’t see time in the quarter-final game either.”
Those who had not seen much playing time throughout the season were able to play meaningful minutes in the tournament.
“It was a great opportunity for some players who did go to Maryland and did get a lot of playing time, and they could show their skills and get experience in a tough tournament game,” said Morrissey.
“The scheduling and timing of it was really what the issue was,” Rautiola said. “We thought the season was over, so we already had plans. So I think communication was definitely kind of a factor.”
Rautiola acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, adding that while it was disappointing, she understood that many of her peers had already made plans.
Athletic Director Marty Testo said the decision to participate in the ECAC tournament was focused on providing student-athletes with another opportunity to step on the court.
“We really believed we were just providing our student-athletes with another opportunity to play,” Testo said. “Did we think it would affect individuals? Never even crossed our minds.”
While the timing created a challenge for some players, Testo emphasized that participation was a personal decision.
“They’re entitled to make their own decision,” he said.
While some players opted out due to prior commitments, Boucher emphasized the opportunity for athletes to continue playing.
“Life is about choices,” he said. “And sometimes you may not agree with somebody’s choices, but you respect that they have a right to make that choice.”
He added, “Your lifespan as an athlete is very short, and if you have a competitive drive and have a competitive character and such, you want to play until you can’t play anymore.”
Before the start of the game against Brooklyn College, one of Boucher’s assistants alerted him to the unexpected support in the stands.
“I look across the gym and see Judy Izzo, as in the hall of fame, and one of her teammates, Alice Adams,” he said. “They drove seven and a half hours to come see us play.”
After the game, Boucher and the alumni spoke with the team, praising their effort and commitment. When asked what he would say to the players now, Boucher remains proud of the team’s efforts.
“As coaches, we are very proud of you,” Boucher said, “You did something difficult, you faced adverse conditions and you didn’t drop your head. We have a lot of respect for what you did, and we’re proud of what you did.
That effort was evident in the final minutes, as fatigue began to take its toll and a singular player remained on the bench.
“They didn’t lose the game–they ran out of time basically and ran out of gas,” Boucher said. “It was fun to watch them compete, given the odds.”
For Boucher, the fatigue wasn’t just physical, but part of a larger lesson.
“They got to experience how you’re gonna be emotionally and physically drained at the end of a season,” he said. “If you’re not, you didn’t put a lot into it. But if you want to be really good, you’ve got to take the next step–and they got a feel for what a high-level tournament environment is like.”
For a team that entered the tournament short-handed, the performance showed that even with just six players, effort and hard work could carry them to the final moment.