by Tom Froemming
November 22, 2005
The Minnesota State women’s basketball team got together many times in the offseason to gel and create chemistry but it didn’t become a team — in every sense of the word — until this weekend.
Friday night, MSU head coach Lori Fish received a superb effort from her players against Wisconsin-Stout, but the Mavericks just couldn’t get their shots to fall when they needed them. MSU scratched and clawed all game, but lost 89-86. In overtime. In its home-opener. To a Division III school.
MSU was left devastated, emotionally drained and tighter as a team.
“I think [the loss] really will bring us together because we had a lot of new players come in and step up big for us,” said junior guard Alanna Wahl after her three-point shot rimmed out as time expired Friday. “I think they showed a lot of composure.”
Less than 24 hours later, MSU came together, recovered from its crushing loss to UWS and beat Minnesota-Crookston 81-73. Flecia Foster, one of the new players Wahl was referring to, led MSU with 16 points while playing in a team-high 33 minutes.
Fish has started the 5-8 freshman guard every game, playing her early, late and often. Fish has also showed confidence in freshmen Joanne Noreen and Alex Andrews.
“When people have confidence in you, I think that it definitely helps you with your confidence,” Foster said. “When we do make freshmen mistakes, our whole team is there to back us up. It’s harder for you to get down on yourself when everybody is so positive.”
After having trouble offensively in its first two games, MSU came out clicking on offense Saturday. The Mavs exploited UMC’s zone defense, connecting on 6-of-11 three-point attempts in the first half — hitting twice as many threes in one half than it had all season. The team also cleaned up its sloppier play from previous games, dishing out 14 assists and turning the ball over just six times to go into the locker room up 47-32.
The Mavericks slowed in the second half, but the damage had already been done, as they hit their last six free throws to seal the victory.
MSU reserve Anna Voltmer played a perfect game offensively, making all five of her attempts from the floor and converting two free throws. The sophomore finished the game with 12 points in 12 minutes played.
Senior center Arin Andrews nearly tallied back-to-back double-doubles at the Tip-Off, scoring 25 points and pulling down nine rebounds Friday and scoring 10 points and totaling 11 rebounds Saturday.
Wahl led the team in assists for the weekend with 11 during the Tip-Off.
The Mavericks travel to Kearney, Neb., to participate in the Al Kaly Shrine Classic this weekend. MSU plays Fort Hays State at 3 p.m. Friday and hosting Nebraska-Kearney at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Tom Froemming is the Reporter Sports Editor
