SMC BASKETBALL: Hornets defeat Belles, 60-53
By HEATHER VAN HOEGARDEN
Sports Writer
Going into Wednesday's game, both Saint Marys and Kalamazoo had a lot on the line, as each team looked to go over the .500 mark in conference play.
From the start of their game Wednesday night at Saint Marys, both teams played intense man-to-man defense. The Hornets man-to-man press kept the Belle guards on their toes, but Saint Mary's put up a fight before falling just short in a 60-53 loss.
Saint Mary's forward Emily Creachbaum established herself early, netting seven points in the first nine minutes. However, Kalamazoo forward Amanda Weishuhn answered every bucket with one of her own. Creachbaum picked up her third foul, however, and was forced to sit for the rest of the half.
With Creachbaum on the bench, it didn't look good for the Belles (5-9, 1-2), who rely heavily on her offense. However, the Belles were able to withstand a 10-4 Hornet run, after Emily Pernotto, who finished the game with seven points and four rebounds, nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 22. Bridget Boyce picked up three of her 12 points with a 3-pointer, and Maureen Bush added a field goal. The Belles went into the half with a 29-28 lead, after withstanding the Hornet run despite Creachbaum sitting on the bench with three fouls.
However, the second half was a different game.
The Belles started off slow, but with 13 minutes to go, had extended their lead to nine points. It looked like the Belles had finally taken control of the game.
But Hornet forwards Weishuhn and Ashley Riley had different plans.
The Kalamazoo duo took over the game with Riley finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds, while going 6-of-6 from the stripe. More impressive was Weishuhn, who scored 23 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds. Including eight offensive and going 13-of-14 from the free throw line.
Despite forcing 25 Hornet turnovers, the Belles couldn't get it done in the second half, as no one took charge on the floor.
Coach Suzanne Bellina was clearly disappointed with her team's performance.
"No one stepped up or made the adjustments that had to be made," Bellina said. "We talked about it, but no one stepped up. We are a young team, and it's not going to be easy, but someone is going to have to step up."
The Belles take to the road next, facing Albion on Saturday.
Bellina hopes that her team will be ready for the next challenge.
"We have to come in tomorrow and be ready to practice with intensity," she said. "Our games will only be as intense as our practices."
Contact Heather Van Hoegarden at hvanhoeg@nd.edu
All Sports Stories for Thursday, January 16, 2003
