Article

So Cold

After a 12-1 start, women's hoops has lost four of six and two of three to open North Central Conference play.

by Dax Larson

Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: Womens Sports

After a hot start to its season, the Minnesota State women's basketball team suffered another loss Tuesday night at the hands of Bemidji State.

This time, it was a 55-foot prayer by BSU's Amy Lawson at the buzzer to defeat the Mavericks 86-83. The road loss pushes the Mavs to 13-5 after a 12-1 start.

Junior Anna Voltmer led the way with 16 points while Heather Johnson chipped in 12.

The Mavericks struggles come at a bad time as they enter conference play. This was the case Jan. 11 when Minnesota State was defeated 76-68 by St. Cloud State University.

"A strength of ours has been scoring in transition," said coach Lori Fish. "We played with intensity in the first half, but in the second half St. Cloud went on a run and I thought we got timid and lost our confidence and played on our heels the rest of the way."

"We have some girls that haven't played in the NCC before," said sophomore Flecia Foster. "So when we play them the second time around at home we should be able to hold our composure better. We just have to start playing together at the same time."

The Mavericks were able to gain a one-point lead at halftime, but quickly lost the lead and couldn't get back to into the game. MSU has struggled keeping their intensity high the entire 40 minutes of a game, another sign of its youth.

"It showed our inexperience, but it was a learning game for us," said sophomore Alex Andrews. "If we had three more minutes I think we could have gotten back in the game."

The Mavericks not only have youth, but they have depth. In their only conference win of the season, the Mavericks protected home court and downed the University of Minnesota-Duluth 71-65. Fish used a hockey-like strategy, often switching players five at a time.

MSU went into halftime with 37-32 advantage. Sophomore Joanne Noreen led MSU with 13 first-half points, including going 3-3 from the three-point line. In the second half the two teams traded leads and with two minutes to go the Bulldogs tied the game 65-65. MSU stifled UMD's offense for the rest of the game and earned the six-point win. Noreen had a solid all-around game with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

"We did a great job executing late and staying together to find good shots," Fish said. "It was big to win at home, which is great for a young team.

"(Our depth) helps to run teams that play six-seven players," Foster said. "We have 10 legit players that if someone doesn't show up there will be someone else there."

Over winter break the Mavericks went 5-4 and are 1-3 in the conference. Overall, MSU is 13-5. With just 9 games to play it looks like the Mavericks will finish with a record over .500. The last time the Mavericks finished a season over .500 was the 1997-98 season when they finished 17-10.

"We want the Taylor Center to be a tough place to play," Andrews said. "We want respect in the conference."

Next up for MSU is a three-game home stand starting Saturday against No. 16 Augustana.

Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer