Irish prepare with preseason test against Finnish Select
By NOAH AMSTADTER
Assistant Sports Editor
The exhibition season serves as a time when a team is able to develop without the pressure of knowing that the game counts. Coaches can try different plays combinations of players that normally would not play together, and observe other aspects of their team without the need to win the game.
For the Notre Dame women's basketball team, tonight's game against Tapiolan Honka from Helsinki, Finland, should prove to be entertaining while allowing Irish coach Muffet McGraw to try as many tricks as she wishes.
The Irish enter the game coming off of an impressive 91-56 victory over the Ohio All-Stars on November 5. In that game, the Irish were able to maintain a dominating lead despite having All-American center Ruth Riley on the floor for only 12 minutes. Freshman guard Jeneka Joyce came off the bench to lead the Irish with 16 points.
With 10 more days of practice under their belts, Joyce expects the team to come out even stronger tonight.
"We should play just as well or even better than we played our first exhibition game," she said.
Joyce also realizes that the team needs Riley on the floor for more of the game, which can only be accomplished if the senior stays out of foul trouble.
"We want her on the floor as much as possible because she is an All-American and she's a great asset to our team," said Joyce.
While the game marks the final preseason game for the Irish, it is also the last of 10 games on a Midwest trip for Tapiolan Honka. The Finnish team did not fare as well as they might have hoped in the heartland of America, carrying in a record of 0-9 after Monday night's 94-43 loss at the hands of the University of Dayton.
The loss to Dayton followed another disappointing loss on Sunday night, as the European ladies fell to the Buckeyes of Ohio State by a score of 120-46.
Heta Korpivaara has proved the offensive leader for Tapiolan Honka, leading the team in scoring each of the last two games with 18 points Monday after 10 points and five rebounds the previous evening.
Tapiolan Honka has also lost to Butler, Vanderbilt and Wright State during their American visit this fall.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. tonight in the Joyce Center.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 14, 2000
