Hoops For Haiti

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (March 5, 2010) - The Mount Holyoke basketball team took on a motley crew of faculty and staff in a game to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims on Tuesday evening at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium.

The stands were packed with enthusiastic fans who cheered in unison whenever either side scored. The Lyons got off to an early lead, up 10-2 within two minutes of the start, but the faculty/staff team came bounding back thanks to the steady shooting skills of politics professor Calvin Chen (sporting L.A. Lakers apparel) and others. At the half, they trailed by just one point, 28-27.

Announcer Jess Lee ’10, the Lyons manager, gave a running critique of the faculty’s somewhat unorthodox play, exclaiming at several points, “That was a pass to .... no one!” and “I have no idea what kind of defense the faculty is trying for.”

Highlights included head swimming and diving coach Dave Allen’s between-the-legs free throw, residential life assistant director Aaron King’s backwards free throw (neither of which made it through the hoop) and Latin American studies professor Lowell Gudmundson’s ace three point shooting (who knew?).

The faculty took the lead in the third quarter, but the students ultimately prevailed, 61-55. Lyons senior guard Erin Cain ’10 said afterwards: “It was really a blast. I’m so glad everyone came out for this.”