2008 Woodie Awards
Women's basketball falls on the road
By Randy Klins
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: Sports
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IUP shot over 50 percent from the field as the Indians beat the Rock, 76-59, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play.
IUP shot 55 percent from the field in the first half, which led to a 40-29 halftime lead. The team didn't slow down in the second half, shooting at 52 percent.
Indiana's hot shooting night included a 5-9 performance from three-point range.
SRU coach Laurel Heilman said it felt like Indiana didn't miss a shot.
"They jumped all over us," Heilman said. "They play 12 kids and there is no dump in talent. They outworked us from the get-go."
IUP (14-6 overall, 3-2 PSAC West) snapped SRU's (11-10, 3-3) three-game winning streak in which the Rock handled Lock Haven, Clarion, and Shippensburg.
In those wins, SRU held opponents to less than 60 points each game. However, on Wednesday, the Rock's top-ranked defense couldn't contain IUP's high-powered offense.
"Going into (Wednesday's night's) game, we were number one in defense," Heilman said. "We just didn't get it done. They just outworked us, they outplayed us, and they were the better team," she said. "They are on a mission."
IUP led a crucial 11-0 run in a 51 second span to take the lead and extend it to 17-9, five minutes into the first half.
Guard Angela Greaser ended the run with a three-point basket, but the Indians maintained a comfortable lead.
While the opponent was sizzling, the Rock missed some easy shots throughout the game. Turnovers were another important factor during the spurt. The Rock committed 18 on Wednesday night.
"In games like this we have got to bring our best game," Heilman said. "When you get layups and chip shots, you have got to finish."
After the break, SRU tried to get back into the game after a couple free-throws by Kristen Bonner to cut the lead the nine. Two more free throws from Greaser cut the lead to eight.
But the Indians had another big spurt midway through the second half. The 13-1 run, which ended with 8:29 left on the clock, extended IUP's lead to 20.
The closest the Rock came to getting back into the game was 12 points and the Indians cruised to the victory.
Greaser finished the game with 15 points while Amanda Chojnacki had 11.
For the Indians, Mame Brumbaugh's 16 points led the way while Jahzinga Tracey had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite the loss to Indiana, if the season ended today, with half of the conference schedule remaining, the Rock would be in the PSAC playoffs as the fourth place team in the division, a half game ahead of Lock Haven.
The Rock doesn't play on Saturday, but travels to California and Edinboro next week to begin the second half of the conference season.
Heilman knows that facing the top two teams in the division on the road is only going to be the beginning of a real difficult stretch of games.
"We got off to a better start than a lot of people thought we would, but it's going to be tough," Heilman said. "Out of 12 games, our goal is to win six. It's going to come down to our last game and it always does."
