SMC BASKETBALL: Belles look to snap losing streak tonight
By JOE LINDSLEY
Sports Writer
Details. Discipline. Defense.
These three words have been the focus of the Saint Mary's basketball team leading into tonight's home game versus Alma.
After three losses in a row — all on the road — the Belles (10-9, 3-5 MIAA) are looking for revenge against a Scots squad that beat them 66-52 on Jan. 5.
"We've been looking forward to playing Alma," said senior Jamie Dineen. "We always play them well and they always give us a good game."
Alma, coming off a 71-63 win over Adrian, looks as it will provide Saint Mary's some stiff competition. Alma's Shelly Ulfig, who was just named MIAA player of the week, put up 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds versus Adrian.
Additionally, Janell Twietmeyer, a player of the week nominee, also scored 23 points in the same game.
But the Belles have Anne Blair, who scored 21 points in Saint Mary's lost to Albion on Saturday. They just need other players, like 3-point shooter Katie Miller, to help her out.
In order to win, the Belles have altered their game plan, focusing on maintaining intensity, strengthening the defense, and improving their rebounding. In the past two games, the Belles have been out-rebounded 78-53.
"We definitely have to crash the boards more," said Dineen. "We have to work on boxing out, going to get the rebound, and being aggressive on their press.
"We've been talking about it in practice. We can't let ourselves lose the focus. We just have to stay mentally in the game at all times. For the second half we want to start out strong like we did for the first half."
Freshman Katie Boyce believes that Belles have not been losing intensity in the second halves of their recent games, but that their opponents have been coming out with increased focus and determination.
"I don't think it's so much that we're losing intensity. It's just that the other team has gotten more intense, and we have to pick it up too. We have to come out more intense the second half," Boyce said.
She believes that the defense is the key to opening up their offense.
"We've really been working on details. Details and discipline would be the theme for tomorrow. That's something [Coach Suzanne Smith] has really focused on the last two days in practice. We need to really come out and play defense so we can get our offense started," Boyce said. "If our defense starts out well, then our offense picks up."
"When we play our defense, we're unstoppable," said freshman Emily Wagoner. "We just have to get back into that rhythm."
During the first minutes of Saturday's game against Albion, Saint Mary's allowed their opponents to score eleven points before the Belles could make their first basket. They do not want this to happen again.
"Tomorrow we have to come out and play defense right away. We can't get them get on a run anytime, but especially in the first five minutes. I think that's the major focus," added Boyce.
After losing to Alma in early January, the Belles know what it will take to beat this squad, which is ranked one place above them in the conference standings.
"In the first game their guards came out and were hitting a lot of shots. So we're hoping to change that, come out and pressure their guards a lot like we did the last game, and limit the post's shots," Boyce said.
The Belles' record on the road this season has been somewhat shaky, and they are looking forward to playing in only their second home game since they've returned from Winter Break.
Additionally, as has been the case previously this season, a win would be welcome.
"We just need a win. We're ready to win," Boyce said.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, January 30, 2002
