2008 Woodie Awards
Jennies seek momentum
Team to face Northwest, ready to move up MIAA
Matt Twillman
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Sports
The Jennies' basketball team continues MIAA play Saturday against Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. Northwest is a team that provides an interesting match-up for the Jennies.
"They are a dangerous team, and they will have anyone on the floor shoot at anytime, so it's hard to key on one player and shut them down," said Jennies' head coach Dave Slifer. "They also do a really good job at home. It is definitely a game we need to win. Northwest is right behind us in the regional poll."
According to Slifer, the key to victory will be consistent play for 40 minutes. That will likely be the key to success for the rest of the season, as well.
The Jennies head into the game after letting a close game get away in the second half against Missouri Southern Jan. 18. Just four days after the Jennies lost to MIAA rival Emporia State, they let a six-point lead slip away in the final five minutes en route to a 64-62 defeat.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, as neither team led by more than six points, and the Jennies went into halftime with a 33-30 lead.
The second half was much like the first. The Jennies led much of the second half and ran the lead up to seven on a Melissa Richardson lay-up with just over 10 minutes to go.
With slightly over five minutes left in the game, the Jennies still held on to a six-point lead. From that point, not much went right for the Jennies. The team saw its 53-47 lead turn into a 55-53 deficit in less than two minutes. The Jennies would not regain the lead from that point.
"We played well for 35 minutes, but unfortunately games are 40 minutes long," Slifer said. "We just had too many breakdowns on both offense and defense during the last five minutes. We have to give Southern credit though. They are much improved from last year."
Lindsey Maple led the Jennies with 16 points. Tiffany Vincent added a team high seven rebounds to her 14 points and led the team by shooting 67 percent from the floor. Vincent spent much of the game in foul trouble and was limited to just 22 minutes.
The Jennies returned to conference action on Wednesday at Pittsburg State, but results of the game were not available at the time of publication.
If the Jennies can find consistency and maintain their recently improved defense and rebounding, they will be a dangerous team throughout the rest of MIAA play.
"They are a dangerous team, and they will have anyone on the floor shoot at anytime, so it's hard to key on one player and shut them down," said Jennies' head coach Dave Slifer. "They also do a really good job at home. It is definitely a game we need to win. Northwest is right behind us in the regional poll."
According to Slifer, the key to victory will be consistent play for 40 minutes. That will likely be the key to success for the rest of the season, as well.
The Jennies head into the game after letting a close game get away in the second half against Missouri Southern Jan. 18. Just four days after the Jennies lost to MIAA rival Emporia State, they let a six-point lead slip away in the final five minutes en route to a 64-62 defeat.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, as neither team led by more than six points, and the Jennies went into halftime with a 33-30 lead.
The second half was much like the first. The Jennies led much of the second half and ran the lead up to seven on a Melissa Richardson lay-up with just over 10 minutes to go.
With slightly over five minutes left in the game, the Jennies still held on to a six-point lead. From that point, not much went right for the Jennies. The team saw its 53-47 lead turn into a 55-53 deficit in less than two minutes. The Jennies would not regain the lead from that point.
"We played well for 35 minutes, but unfortunately games are 40 minutes long," Slifer said. "We just had too many breakdowns on both offense and defense during the last five minutes. We have to give Southern credit though. They are much improved from last year."
Lindsey Maple led the Jennies with 16 points. Tiffany Vincent added a team high seven rebounds to her 14 points and led the team by shooting 67 percent from the floor. Vincent spent much of the game in foul trouble and was limited to just 22 minutes.
The Jennies returned to conference action on Wednesday at Pittsburg State, but results of the game were not available at the time of publication.
If the Jennies can find consistency and maintain their recently improved defense and rebounding, they will be a dangerous team throughout the rest of MIAA play.