The memories of how the previous season came crashing to an end served as the perfect tonic the veteran members of the 2006-2007 Southern Connecticut State women’s basketball team needed to put together a historic season.

When Kate Lynch, Shamika Jackson, Babette Noah, LaShauna Jones and Michelle Martinik returned to form the nucleus of the 2006-07 squad, they were driven and determined to learn from their past missteps — falling in the 2006 regional finals and losing in the regional semifinals in 2005.

“The kids were really focused on getting back there to win that regional and get to the Elite Eight,” said former Southern Connecticut State coach Joe Frager.

The Owls ripped off 20 straight wins to open the season, but Frager considered the only two losses to be pivotal to the process of winning the program’s first NCAA Division II title.

Read Jim Fuller's complete story.

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Kevin Gilbride had dreams of becoming a major league pitcher while growing up in North Haven, where he starred at every level right through his time with high school coach Bob DeMayo.

Arm injuries derailed his baseball dreams. They also limited him as a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State, where he finished his career as a tight end.

Gilbride would still go on to great achievements, albeit as a coach. He is regarded as one of the premier offensive minds in football, winning his second Super Bowl ring as offensive coordinator of the New York Giants in February.

Read Chip Malafronte's complete story.