Martin, Ravens reach Elite 8

By Gary Hawkins, Kennebec Journal



Toby Martin transferred from Division III Thomas College to Division II Franklin Pierce University two years ago with the idea of playing basketball on a bigger stage.

The junior point guard will get her wish Wednesday when Franklin Pierce takes on Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Martin and the Ravens qualified by winning the Northeast Regional last week against top-seeded and previously unbeaten Holy Family University.

"Winning a regional championship is the biggest thing for me as far as basketball goes," said Martin, who played in an Eastern Maine Class B final at Maranacook. "When we play well together ... we're really a good team."

Martin started 28 of 32 games for the Ravens this season and was instrumental in the win against Holy Family, scoring 11 points and playing 27 minutes. But the 5-foot-3 guard hardly played in the previous game against Stonehill because of a height mismatch.

"It clearly worked," Martin said. "You can't argue when it's working."

Franklin Pierce coach Mark Swasey said the selflessness of his team is one reason for its success.

"Toby is a great example," he said. "She played less than a minute against Stonehill and turned around and was so important in our victory against Holy Family."

Martin averaged 5.9 points a game this season for the Rindge, N.H., school while shooting .436 from behind the 3-point arc and 86 percent from the foul line.

"We don't think she shoots enough," Swasey said. The Ravens got a wakeup call in the Northeast-10 Conference playoffs when they were soundly beaten by Bryant College.

"We learned we cannot be tight," Swasey said. "We were afraid to make a mistake. We cannot be go od if we're tentative."

Swasey said his team needs to push the ball against an Alaska-Anchorage team that includes a Division I transfer, as well several international players and junior college transfers. "If we're shooting well out there we can play with anybody," he said.

Added Martin: "Their guards are quick and they have a big post player. Coach feels they're nothing we haven't seen before. The Northeast-10 is so good we can match up with anyone."

The winner of Franklin Pierce's game plays the winner of the Wingate-Northern Kentucky game at 8 p.m. Thursday in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. The national championship game will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday and shown on ESPN2.