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Turnovers 'getting old' in fourth straight loss for Tiger women
1/24/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
Hays Daily News
The same things that have been hurting the Tigers all season were the team's downfall again Wednesday night.
Too many turnovers and too few made baskets were too much for the Fort Hays State University women's basketball team to overcome in a 74-62 loss to University of Central Missouri in Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Jennies won their first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game, while handing the Tigers their fourth straight loss.
Fort Hays (7-9 overall, 1-6 MIAA), which had committed at least 20 turnovers in five of six previous conference games, had 23 on Wednesday.
The Tigers, who were shooting 39 percent from the floor going in, shot 37 percent on Wednesday. The team's 62 points were below the Tigers' average for the season of 65.5 points per game, last in the MIAA.
The turnovers were taking their toll on the Tiger coach.
"No question, it's getting so old," said Wiles, slumped in a chair after the game. "Time and time again."
Wiles also pointed to the team's 12-of-19 performance from the foul line.
"To shoot 63 percent form the line is ridiculous," Wiles said. "And 23 turnovers -- no question it's disappointing." Central Missouri (6-10, 1-6) led 36-33 at halftime behind 50 percent shooting from the floor. The Jennies took control of the game with a 10-1 run in the second half to take a 63-50 lead with 4:51 remaining.
The coup de grace was a 3-pointer by senior guard Lindsey Maples with 1:36 left. Central Missouri ran the shot clock down, then Maples drained her second trey of the game to give the visitors a 68-57 lead.
Maples led Central Missouri with 20 points, pacing four Jennies in double figures.
Senior Sheena Kunztsch had a hard-earned double-double for the Tigers, with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers had trouble getting her the ball when she posted up inside.
"On both ends of the floor, we're not getting anything going," Wiles said.
Tiger sophomore Naomi Bancroft also scored 15 points, on 5-of-12 shooting from 3-point range. Sophomore Kayla Klug added 14 points. Senior forward Brianna Willhite was hurt by foul trouble and was held to eight points.
The Tigers are in danger of not qualifying for the conference's postseason tournament. With the loss, Fort Hays is tied for last in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri in the 10-team league. The top eight teams make the postseason.
"Losing games certainly isn't fun," Wiles said. "Certainly something I'm not used to, something the players aren't used to."
Fort Hays is at home Saturday for a 3 p.m. game against Missouri Southern State University.
Sports editor Randy Gonzales can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 137, or by e-mail at
rgonzales@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
