2008 Woodie Awards
Loss to IUPUI puts 'Winds tourney seed in flux
Ryan Ferguson
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Sports
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The Westerwinds (14-15, 12-6 Summit League) now have to wait until the outcome of Oakland's game at Southern Utah is settled Monday night. With an Oakland win, Western slips to No. 2 in the Summit League Tournament. If Oakland loses, the 'Winds would claim the No. 1 seed.
After starting the season 2-9, 'Winds coach Leslie Crane said no matter her team's seed, she knows how far her team has come this season.
"Where we were when we came into the conference and where we finished is huge," Crane said. "It says a lot about the young women that are on this team and the desire that they've had throughout this year. Granted you'd like to be No. 1, but I think we've got a great scenario being the No. 2 seed in the bracket. I'm just very pleased with what we've done here in the second semester."
Junior guard Amanda Walker started Saturday's game at IUPUI (15-15, 11-7 Summit) on a positive note for Western when she scored the first points of the game. An eight-minute scoring drought followed, putting the 'Winds into a deep hole early in the game (13-2).
Still, Western began to crawl its way out of the hole it had dug, outscoring IUPUI 19-16 during the remainder of the first half.
"We have such great shooters on our team, and when we're not getting the looks or we're not getting the shots we want, I think it's tough for us," said junior forward Katy Davenport. "It was just a tough first half. We didn't get down in the offense because we had so many turnovers in a row in the beginning."
The 'Winds began the second half the same way they had started the first, as sophomore guard Jordon O'Brien put Western on the board first after halftime. The similarities did not end there. For the next 6:39, the visiting team dug itself to a 14-point deficit (37-23).
A layup by junior forward Nicole Meyers started the process of the 'Winds climbing their way back to the surface. After a jump shot by Davenport, a 3-ponter by senior guard Gina Hugelier and a layup by senior forward Stephanie Lovingood, the IUPUI lead shrunk to five.
"I thought, coming into the game, it would probably be a close game, a dogfight the whole way," said Jaguars coach Shann Hart. "So when we went up 13, 15 points, I was actually surprised because I think that just took the wind out of them when we did that. I think because of the early lead early on, that (helped us) keep the momentum to be able to pull it through."
Western reached the surface for the first time since the opening tip when Davenport hit a jump shot with 3:12 remaining to tie the game at 42.
"We didn't attack the way we should have," Crane said. "I think (our players) were a little apprehensive with the quickness and speed (IUPUI) has. But as the game progressed, it got better, and we started playing.
"Our problem tonight is we didn't start playing until the last 10 minutes of the second half, as far as offensively," she added.
Davenport, who scored a game-high 20 points, put the 'Winds' feet on solid ground with 1:08 remaining when she knocked down a 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of the Jaguars' 6'5" center Julia Whitted to give Western a 45-44 lead.
"I really just tried to focus on the rim and not let her running out on me affect the shot," Davenport said.
Hart said her team was having a hard time trying to defend Davenport on both the post and perimeter.
"(Davenport) really can play every position," Hart said. "Her ability to be able to shoot that ball from the outside - that gave us a little trouble especially down the stretch."
IUPUI guard Christina Cunningham gave her team back the lead by knocking down two free throws after being fouled by Lovingood. Cunningham added another free throw on a one-and-one opportunity with 18 seconds left to put Western back in the hole (47-45).
In a last ditch effort, Davenport released a 3-pointer with four seconds left. The shot fell short and was rebounded by IUPUI to end the game.
"I just wish we would have been able to attack more regularly throughout the game, so it wouldn't have come down to having a shot at the end," Crane said.
While the 'Winds struggled on the offensive end of the floor, they were able to hold Whitted to nine points in the game. The Jaguars center had averaged 21.5 points per game throughout her previous four outings.
"We held (Whitted) to nine points, so that's huge," Crane said. "We just have to a better job of staying in our game plan and attack them, attack that zone. I think we'll do a better job if we get another opportunity to see them in the conference tournament."
Western has five days off before the Summit League Tournament begins in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday.
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