The IUS women’s basketball team defeated visiting Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Berea College 71- 57 on Jan. 12, at the Activities Building.

The win improved IU Southeast’s record to 11-7 and 5-0 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The loss dropped Berea’s record to 2-14 and 0-1 in the KIAC.

Whitney Duncan, junior guard, led the Grenadier’s with 15 points, eight assists and five steals.

The Grenadiers used defensive pressure at the start of the game to force the Mountaineers into committ ing early turnovers

and jump out to an early nine to zero lead.

IU Southeast forced Berea into committ ing 23 turnovers for the game.

“I always force turnovers,” Duncan said. “I try to start my off ense with my defense.”

Duncan and Ashmere Woods, freshman guard, were able to use their defensive pressure to create turnovers that lead to fast break scoring opportunities for them against the Mountaineers.

“I use my quickness to break the press, I just have to know when to go and not to go,” Duncan said. “Ashmere and I played in high school together. We like to run the ball a lot.”

Woods was able to capitalize on fast break opportunities and scored 15 points for the Grenadiers.

Robin Farris, IU Southeast women’s basketball head coach, said Duncan is making bett er decisions than she made the previous

two seasons.

“We like to get the ball into her hands so she can

create more,” Farris said. ”She has been pretty solid this year.”

When the Mountaineers were able to get past the Grenadier guards and get to the basket, there were defenders underneath the basket waiting for them.

Alden Krausse, junior forward, blocked six shots and grabbed five rebounds, while adding 10 points for the Grenadiers.

Farris, who is in his 21st season as the Grenadier head coach, said he was glad his team won the game, but he found some things the team needs to improve on.

“I thought we played well in spurts,” Farris said. “We put some nice runs together, but defensively we had some break downs.”

Farris said his team was beat off the dribble on too many defensive possessions and committ ed too many fouls that sent Berea to the free throw line 23 times.

The Grenadiers had the same problem in their previous game, a 70-68 win on Jan. 6 against Brescia University.

“We have to work on moving our feet on defense,” Farris said.

Krausse said she agreed with her coach, and the team needs to work on improving their defense and gett ing open on off ensive out-of-bounds plays.

The Mountaineers were able to make a late run in the second half and cut the Grenadier lead to eight points with six minutes remaining in the game.

IU Southeast responded by scoring on their next two offensive possessions, connecting on a two-point basket and a three-pointer putting the game out of Berea’s reach.

The win also extended the team’s conference winning streak to 14-straight regular season wins against KIAC opponents. The Grenadiers were undefeated last season in the KIAC.IU Southeast’s last conference loss came against Berea College on Feb. 23, 2008.

“Hopefully, we will be able to go undefeated like last year,” Krausse said.

The Grenadiers’ next home game is their homecoming game against Asbury on Jan. 23.

By JUSTIN RAY
Staff Writer
jusray@ius.edu