Spring Break
Column: Galligan's record well-earned
Collin Whitchurch / Associate Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Sports
The irony of Eastern senior forward Rachel Galligan's record-breaking basket Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn., is that she missed a free throw moments earlier that would have given her the record.
Eastern women's basketball's record-holder in free throws attempted, free throws made — and now points scored — tied Nancy Kassebaum's record of 1,807 points with a free throw with 17 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the game, but she missed her second attempt.
"I'm not going to lie, I knew how many points I needed at that moment," Galligan said. "It didn't make me any more nervous. I thought I was going to make it. I just happened to glance at the scoreboard right before it."
The miss proved irrelevant on the team's next possession as Galligan vaulted herself into Eastern history with a lay-up, one of her 13 field goals on the night.
The record is a culmination of Galligan's career as the face of the Eastern women's basketball program, and arguably of Eastern athletics as a whole. She has been the steady force in the post for the Panthers, putting together four years of hard work on the court to go along with a solid off-the-court reputation.
And while it's cliché to say Galligan earned the record with humility, it couldn't be more true.
"She's always been the player that when we need to we could just throw it to her on the block and more times than not good things have happened," Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said. "She did a great job through this whole chase of staying grounded and concentrating on doing what we needed her to do."
Galligan's record-breaking performance comes at a unique time for the Panthers. Dealing with a conference title chase and dreams of an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title have held precedent for Galligan throughout the season, leaving the chase for the record on the backburners.
The athletic program will honor her for the record Tuesday night in Lantz Arena before the Panthers' 7 p.m. first round OVC Tournament game against Tennessee Tech. The crowd is expected to be large and loud, similar to the team's Senior Day game against Murray State last Saturday.
Fans and students should come and show their support. Not just for the team in yet another critical game, but also for a student-athlete who has given everything she has to Eastern's athletic program, taking the floor and being honored in Lantz Arena one last time.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
Eastern women's basketball's record-holder in free throws attempted, free throws made — and now points scored — tied Nancy Kassebaum's record of 1,807 points with a free throw with 17 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the game, but she missed her second attempt.
"I'm not going to lie, I knew how many points I needed at that moment," Galligan said. "It didn't make me any more nervous. I thought I was going to make it. I just happened to glance at the scoreboard right before it."
The miss proved irrelevant on the team's next possession as Galligan vaulted herself into Eastern history with a lay-up, one of her 13 field goals on the night.
The record is a culmination of Galligan's career as the face of the Eastern women's basketball program, and arguably of Eastern athletics as a whole. She has been the steady force in the post for the Panthers, putting together four years of hard work on the court to go along with a solid off-the-court reputation.
And while it's cliché to say Galligan earned the record with humility, it couldn't be more true.
"She's always been the player that when we need to we could just throw it to her on the block and more times than not good things have happened," Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said. "She did a great job through this whole chase of staying grounded and concentrating on doing what we needed her to do."
Galligan's record-breaking performance comes at a unique time for the Panthers. Dealing with a conference title chase and dreams of an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title have held precedent for Galligan throughout the season, leaving the chase for the record on the backburners.
The athletic program will honor her for the record Tuesday night in Lantz Arena before the Panthers' 7 p.m. first round OVC Tournament game against Tennessee Tech. The crowd is expected to be large and loud, similar to the team's Senior Day game against Murray State last Saturday.
Fans and students should come and show their support. Not just for the team in yet another critical game, but also for a student-athlete who has given everything she has to Eastern's athletic program, taking the floor and being honored in Lantz Arena one last time.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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