BRUNSWICK

This was the situation. Bowdoin trailed Ithaca, 65-58 with four minutes remaining in Saturday’s NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament game at sold out Morrell Gymnasium.

Was this it, the end of a solid Polar Bears season in the second round of the tournament?

Bowdoin sophomore point guard Marle Curle had other ideas, passing to a teammate for two points before swishing two long-range 3-pointers for a 69-66 Bowdoin lead en route to a 71-66 comefrom behind win over the stunned Bombers.

Anyone who has gotten to know Marle shouldn’t be surprised at her heroics. This Plattsburgh, N.Y., native has a swagger about her, a confidence that goes far beyond her young age.

One just needs to go back 24 hours, prior to Friday’s opening round matchup with Babson. In a time where many athletes have nerves rampaging through their bodies, here was the government major, showing her dancing skills on the sidelines as her teammates nearly fell out of their seats in laughter. Any nerves that might have been there seemed to fade away as the team watched Marle’s smooth moves.

Then came the basketball games, where Marle again had her teammates watching at times in amazement, first during her 16-point, 10- rebound, five-assist performance in Bowdoin’s 70-57 win over Babson, followed one night later with a career-high 23-point, fiverebound, four-steal effort in the victory over Ithaca.

To say the least, her teammates seem to like her moves, both on and off the court.

“She has been a great leader for us, a real emotional leader for us both on and off the court,” said Bowdoin senior captain Sara Binkhorst. “She has a great personality, great energy and a super competitive spirit. She leads in multiple ways. There is a real balance about her, and she is able to have fun off the court. But, when it comes to game time, there is a real intensity and competitiveness about her that makes you glad she is on your team.”

“Marle keeps it loose, but once she steps on the court, she brings it to our opponents all over the floor,” said Bowdoin women’s basketball coach Adrienne Shibles. “She leads this team on the floor. She is a dynamic athlete, with Division One quickness and a well-rounded skill set.”

Marle Curle

The sophomore is from Plattsburgh, N.Y., the daughter of Tom and Ann-Marie Curle. Tom is the winningest head coach percentage-wise in the history of the Plattsburgh State men’s basketball team with 195 wins (.631 winning percentage), and Marle is the youngest of three children, with older siblings John and Dana making for a busy household while growing up.

Instead of staying close to home, the Plattsburgh High School graduate decided to play her college ball at Bowdoin.

“I loved the team, coach Shibles, and I could see myself here both academically and socially. Bowdoin has such a tradition of excellence, and that was important to me.”

Like most standout high school players moving on to college, Marle had a lot to learn about the college game.

“There is always a transition into college, but it is awesome to be surrounded by players who make you better every day in practice. It makes you better and makes you learn. I have learned a lot more about the game. It is just a different game, with the pace a lot faster and having to know your opponent more. It is very fast, that transition.”

As a freshman, Marle averaged 5.4 points a game, starting 25 of Bowdoin’s 27 games and averaging a shade over 21 minutes of playing time a contest. This year, she has started all 29 Bowdoin games, averaging 9.6 points a game. As a point guard, one of her jobs is to get the ball into the hands of her teammates for points. This season, she is averaging 3.1 assists a game, while pulling down 4.7 rebounds.

“I feel like if anyone is open that we have some great shooters. If I’m open, I will shoot it and try to knock it down for my teammates.”

“One of the things that makes our team great is that we have super balance and great depth, and on any given night any one of us can step up and good things will happen,” said Binkhorst. “When the ball is in Marle’s hands, good things happen. She is a great shooter, a great player and is just super competitive. When she steps up, you just know that she is going to make good plays.”

How important is Marle’s pre-game shenanigans? Let’s go to the source.

“It is huge to have fun before a tournament game. We are playing a sport that we love. There girls are my best friends and are family, so we need to have some fun together before. We are best friends on and off the court and love each other’s company. It is not unusual to have good times before the games and loosen the nerves before the big games.”

Away from the fans, which are numerous when it comes to Bowdoin women’s basketball, Marle and her teammates are able to focus on the task at hand.

“In the locker room, we are all together as we get close to game time. We are very focused, and our coaches and captains keep us focused. Once on the court, it is game time.”

Back to the Ithaca game, Marle knew the situation. Coming out of a Bowdoin timeout, the Polar Bear fans rose to their feet in unison, trying to lift their team after Ithaca had rolled off a 10-0 run. Marle and her teammates rose up, just like they have done during this 25-4 season. Curle’s first trey tied the game, 66-66, and a steal moments later and her second from beyond the arc, completed an improbable 11- 1 run for a 69- 66 lead. Two blocks by junior forward Shannon Brady and a couple free throws sent the Polar Bears to New Jersey against Montclair State on Friday (7 p.m.).

“It was a great feeling. I was excited, but I knew that the team and I wanted to win that game. I wasn’t going to be satisfied to come all this way and lose. We play for each other and have so much respect. Day-in and day-out in practice, we compete against and with each other.

“It is not enough. We are not going to give up and let go of something that we want so bad. Our hard work shined in that moment.”

“Marle has that competitive edge to her, and I think that comes from her background, with her dad being a collegiate coach,” added Shibles.

Marle feels her team’s senior captains, Binkhorst, Siena Mitman and injured Megan Phelps, have been an inspiration, both on and off the court this season.

“They have been huge for everyone here. They inspire us in practice, great friends and just awesome captains. It is awesome to be a part of an institution that has such a collective body that supports you in so many ways. It is a great feeling.”

Now comes the next step, battling the 28-1 Red Hawks, who are riding a 14-game winning streak and will have their home fans cheering them on. Marle feels her team is ready.

“We are excited. It is the ‘Sweet 16’ and all the teams are good. We are up for the challenge. We have had a good week of practice and we are excited for New Jersey.”