Lack of focus reason
for women’s loss
Sheila Snodgrass
Contributing Writer
|
Chinh Chi Pham Mesa Legend |
| Krisheena Tsingine shoots
from the block as Holly Wride looks on in the home game against
Arizona Western College Jan. 28. |
MCC suffered a disappointing loss to rival Scottsdale Community
College in a Division II game Jan. 21.
The 56-41 loss took place at SCC and was the Thunderbird’s’
second loss to the Artichokes.
Head coach Robin Schamber was in good spirits about the team’s
performance, though she easily identified the team’s main
downfall.
“We had a problem with focus. We went into the game play-ready,
but we just couldn’t keep our focus,” she said.
Mesa entered the game with confidence and momentum, bringing with
them a 5-0 record in the division.
Mesa won the tip-off, but was unable to keep the play alive, giving
the ball to the Artichokes. Layna Hester got things started for
Scottsdale with the first basket of the night.
Sophomore Allie Gard put Mesa on the board with a three pointer.
A foul by SCC sent freshman Melissa Murray to the line. Murray
made one of her two free throw attempts, giving MCC an 11-6 lead.
After a clean three pointer, SCC called for a timeout with 13
minutes remaining in the half and returned to the hardwood pumped
up, coming out to take the lead for the first time in the game.
A foul called on SCC’s Keisha Thomas brought Gard to the
line for the second time in a matter of minutes. Gard sunk both
free throws, bringing MCC within four points of SCC.
Aminah Jones started a rally for SCC, making both of her free
throws off of a foul on MCC’s Brandi Steinke. SCC kept the
heat up throughout the rest of the game, never letting MCC retake
the lead.
Plagued with missed shots and inconsistency at the line, halftime
approached with Mesa down 31-24.
At the buzzer, forward Brooke Stine took a wild fall over a downed
teammate. She left the floor with an injured right ankle and did
not return to the game. She is expected to be back on the court
for the next game.
Schamber called the team into a huddle at the end of halftime
to encourage them to regain focus.
Mesa came back looking refreshed and more aggressive, but the
Mesa defense could not hold off the Artichokes offense as they
continued to light up the board.
Scottsdale kept defense tight against the Thunderbirds, concentrating
on Gard.
SCC’s Terri Ramsey fouled for the third time in the half,
sending Murray to the line for Mesa, to sink both of her attempts.
Murray followed the free throws with an effortless-looking three
pointer. Off another foul on Ramsey just minutes later, Murray
added two more free throws. Continuing her streak, she threw in
another basket.
Murray’s streak got the crowd fired up, but Mesa didn’t
have enough to overcome Scottsdale’s strong force and overtake
the lead.
SCC’s Jasmine Williams fouled out of the game, giving Kayli
Kauzlarich the free throws. Kauzlarich made one of two.
Mesa called a time out with 2:45 remaining, hoping to close up
the gap. They came within six points, but SCC answered each shot
with one of their own.
Mesa fought against tough defense through the second half, but
SCC proved to be too much. The match-up ended with SCC 56, MCC
41.
Murray was in high spirits and eager about upcoming games.
“We’re coming to our peak. We’re not going to
let it get us down. We have to stay positive,” she said.
Murray led the team with 12 points. Gard and Steinke followed
with 10 points each.
Schamber remained optimistic and felt the game went well, even
though MCC lost.
“We played well. We just need to get our defensive and offensive
games to come together as one,” she said.
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