Pictured: Laura Gemmell went 16-0 during her rookie season.
Photo courtesy: Chris Smith

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HARTFORD, Conn. -- Freshman Laura Gemmell completed her rookie season with a perfect 16-0 record, as she won the College Squash Association individual national championship.  Gemmell took home the Ramsay Cup, as she finished first in the "A" Division with a 5-0 mark on the weekend.

Gemmell, who dropped only three games all season, faced Trinity's Pamela Hathway in the national final.  Gemmell struck first, taking game one. 11-7, but Hathway tied the match, as she picked up an 11-5 victory in the second game.  The third game went to overtime, as Hathway edged Gemmell, 15-13, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.  Gemmell held her ground in the fourth set, 11-8, to force a fifth and decisive game.  With the players trading points in the fifth set, Gemmell and Hathway were tied, 9-9.  Gemmell then took command, scoring the next two points to take the game and the match, 3-2. 

The Crimson has now claimed 11 Ramsay Cups, as Kyla Griggs '07 was the last player prior to Gemmell the win the trophy, taking it home in 2007. 

Senior co-captain Katherine O'Donnell claimed victory in the "B" Division final, as she won the Holleran Cup by defeating Trinity's JoAnn Jee in five games.  O'Donnell, who finished her season with a 16-1 overall mark, outplayed Jee in the first two games, 11-7 and 11-9, to open a 2-0 lead.  Jee responded in game three with a 11-2 victory and then tied the match, 2-2, by winning game four, 11-4.  O'Donnell took command in game five, clinching the match and the Holleran Cup by outscoring Jee, 11-7. Harvard has won two of the eight Holleran trophies, since the award was first presented in 2003.

O'Donnell won her semifinal match against Penn's Anne Madeira. O'Donnell took the first game, 11-9, but Madeira tied the match with an 11-3 showing in game two. O'Donnell won game three, 11-9, and claimed game four, 12-10.

Junior Bethan Williams, who had advanced to the semifinals of the Holleran Cup Division, fell to Jee earlier on Sunday, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6.