2008 Woodie Awards
Women Ready to Make it Six
Winston Robinson: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports
|
Playing at Emporia's William L. White Auditorium has been a tough place to play for many opponents. The 22nd-ranked Hornets are 9-2 at home this season and have won those nine games by an average of over 26 points.
"There's nothing like a game at White Auditorium," said coach Dave Slifer.
With two talented freshmen in the starting lineup, guards Kara Fleming and Kelce Goebel, Slifer will need them to handle the pressures of the tough road trip.
"Our two freshman are going to learn a lot about themselves and basketball," Slifer said. "That is a great venue to play, in and they're going to have to be very intense to make it happen there."
The Jennies have been playing well lately and look like they're ready for Emporia after earning two important home wins over Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hayes State.
Wednesday's 96-52 blowout of rival Northwest allowed the Jennies to have a little fun. The win also avenged a loss the Lady Bearcats handed them earlier in the season.
"That was a lot more fun," Slifer said.
Slifer also kept some of the starters in late during the game, even though the Jennies were up by 44 points with a little over seven minutes left.
The risky move was part of Slifer's way to motivate his players.
"If a team has felt as bad as we have, we've got to enjoy the good parts, so I let them enjoy it," Slifer said. "We were down 54-26 at their place at half-time, we were very much in disarray, and now we're on a roll."
The Jennies benefited greatly from Northwest's defense doubled and triple-teamed senior center Jojuanna Jones. She served as a decoy, and allowed the rest of the team to have easy baskets.
"They hung all over her, but we just got to open spots," said senior guard Lindsey Maple. "She's tough inside, so when we can hit our shots outside, it's fun."
Be the first to comment on this story