Article

Women's Hoops Hits Road, Faces Augie

Mavericks are 3-10 in their last 13 games since 11-1 start; 2-8 in North Central Conference play.

by Andrew Miller

Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Womens Sports

Looking to get a surprisingly rare win in conference play, the Minnesota State women's basketball team travels to Sioux Falls, S.D. tonight to take on the cream of the North Central Conference's crop: Augustana.

The No. 13 Vikings (23-4 overall, 7-2 NCC) are coming off a 75-67 upset over No. 2 North Dakota, beating the Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks for the first time in 20 years. But it's the raucous Elmen Center where the Vikings have not lost a game this season, and the Mavericks are aware of the hostile environment they face.

"They're at the top of the conference," said Mavericks head coach Lori Fish. "So, it doesn't get any easier for us."

The Mavericks fell to Augustana 72-67 at the Taylor Center on Jan. 20. Despite hanging close most of the game, MSU allowed Augustana's Alison Adamson 11 points over a crucial seven-minute stretch midway through the second half. Adamson finished with 23 points, five steals and four assists.

Fish emphasized the Vikings are a team that strikes with efficiency. "When they get on a roll, they can put up a lot of points in a short period of time; more so than anyone else in this league."

For the Mavericks to upend the soaring Vikings, they will need more consistency throughout the contest. The team has recently been doomed by extended offensive droughts, allowing opponents opportunities to go for the jugular.

Sophomore forward Alex Andrews leads the Mavericks in scoring at just over 11 points per game, but sophomore guards Heather Johnson and Joanne Noreen have become more consistent offensive threats. Augustana leads the NCC in defense, however, holding teams to 57.4 points per game while averaging a winning margin of 19 points.

Fish said the key to the Mavericks' offense is making stops and rebounding better.

"We've really got to focus on being able to stop the basketball and getting set defensively so we don't leave people wide open," Fish said.

The Mavericks (14-11 overall, 2-8 NCC) play Augustana tonight in Sioux Falls, S.D. at 6 p.m. Their regular season finale is at home Feb. 24 against Nebraska-Omaha.

Andrew Miller is the Reporter Editor in Chief