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Program History
It was the vision of former Harcum College President, Dr. Charles Trout to restore athletics at Harcum after they were cut in 1999. Five years later, his dream was realized when Harcum joined the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II in women’s basketball and became the newest member of Region XIX. The success of Harcum's Lady Bear Basketball team in their inaugural season was better than any Hollywood script.
The programs first head coach, Paul Reiser, guided the Lady Bears to a 27-1 record. Their only loss, 78-65, came at the hands of Mercer County Community College in the Region XIX Division II Championship game. Leading the attack for Harcum was Daniel Jones (Philadelphia, Simon Gratz HS) who was voted to the All-Region XIX First Team, the school's first.
Year two brought higher expectations and featured a coaching change; Ty Taylor took over a team that was focused on winning the Region XIX Division II Championship. Despite losing three regular season games to Region XIX opponents, Harcum managed to finish the regular season as the #1 seed heading into the Championship tournament.
Their semi-final match-up at Haverford College, against Salem County College was one for the ages, this 104-92, double overtime thriller propelled Harcum into the Championship game, against Essex County College. Harcum outlasted Essex, 89-80 to win their first Region XIX Division II Championship. Second year, guard Danielle Jones was named The Tournament M.V.P.; she was also honored as an All-Region XIX Second Team selection. First year player, Chantal Hardy (Philadelphia, Cardinal Dougherty HS) earned All-Region XIX First Team honors also. The victory placed Harcum in the District “I” Championship game against perennial Region XXI powerhouse; Community College of Rhode Island at Haverford College, the victor would advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. Thoughts of playing for a National Championship, diminished in the second half, as CCRI erased an eight point half time deficit to defeat Harcum 74-65, ending the Lady Bears season with an overall record of 25-5.
Jones capped off her stellar career at Harcum as the programs all time career leader career points with 928, a points per game average of 18.2 and a 3 point field goal percentage of 47.25%. Also, leaving their mark in the Harcum record books were; Alana Rumpel, (Seton Catholic HS / Binghamton, N.Y.) who holds the records for career 3 point field goals made and attempted with 148 and 447 respectively. Kristian Woodridge (Abington H.S./Abington, PA) established herself as the school's career assist leader with 367 and a staggering 7.06 assist per game average.
Hardy, was handed the torch in season three, she was coming off the best offensive performance by a Harcum first year player, with 531 total points scored in 2005-06. Coach Taylor brought in 12 freshmen from northern New Jersey, Delaware and suburban Philadelphia to help sustain the momentum the program was able to create. The Lady Bears took a 9-1 record into the holiday break, and continued their dominance in January and February going 15-1, ending the regular season 16-0 against Region XIX Division II opponents.
Again, advancing into the semi-final round as the #1 seed, of the Regional Tournament, Harcum faced Essex at Cabrini College. Essex was the only team this season that Harcum did not defeat by double digits. The Lady Bears managed to hold on to a 76-72 victory and move on to defend their championship against an up and coming Union County team. Having swept the regular season series, Harcum knew that they would have their hands full. As the game unfolded, Harcum players found themselves in foul trouble which negated their depth on the bench as Union dethrone the Lady Bears, 87-80, ending Harcum’s season at 23-3.
No matter the sport or the level, it is hard to maintain such success year in and year out. Year four for the Lady Bears, was the season where Murphy’s Law was in full effect. The season was littered with inconsistent play as well as injuries. Despite all of this, Harcum did manage a 17-14 overall record, going 12-4 in Region which was good enough for the #2 seed in the post season tournament. Harcum hosted the semi-final contest against Burlington County, after the Lady Bears defeated County College of Morris 79-62 in the first round.
Semi-final games historically have been epic battles for Harcum; 2008 would not be any different. Harcum failed to convert two free throws down the stretch, which would have extended their lead to three, Burlington converted on a lay-up with .5 seconds remaining to break Harcum’s streak of appearances in the Region XIX Championship game. The 84-83 loss; was a reflection of a long season that had it moments of success and under-achievements.
This, their 5th season boasts a lot of expectations for this young team. The Lady Bears have achieved four consecutive winning seasons, three of which were 20+ wins. Their overall record since joining the NJCAA is 91-20, compiling a Region XIX Division II record of 55-8, and reached the Region XIX Division II Tournament Championship game in three of their first four seasons. The women’s basketball program was the first Harcum athletic team to win a Region XIX Division II Championship in 2006. Because of their overwhelming success, the Lady Bears continues to be a formidable power within the Northeast Region.
Program Highlights:
Region 19 Coach of the Year (2006)
Region 19 Championship Tournament MVP (Danielle Jones 2006)
Region 19 Championship Tournament Title game (2007, 2006, 2005)
Region 19 Championship Tournament (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)
Region 19 Champions (2006)
Region 19 Championship Tournament Runners-up (2007, 2005)
NJCAA District I Championship game (2006)
NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American Selection (Danielle Jones 2005)
One Region 19 Player of the Year (Angela Brown 2008)
Three First Team All-Region 19 (Angela Brown 2007, Chantal Hardy 2006, Danielle Jones 2005)
Two Second Team All-Region 19 (Ashley Giddens 2008 & 2007, Chantal Hardy 2007)
Thirty-three consecutive wins at Klein Hall Gymnasium (2005 to 2008)
Undefeated Region 19 Regular Season 16-0 (2007, 2005)
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