The IUS women’s basketball team closed out their 2010 home schedule and the careers of two seniors Vannessa Stauble, center, and Alisha Briner, forward, on senior night against Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Alice Lloyd, on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Alden Krausse, IUS junior forward, helped send the two seniors out with their last win in the Activities Building, scoring 17 of her team high 19 points in the first half, and leading the Grenadiers to an 87-74 victory against the visiting Eagles.
IUS women’s basketball head coach Robin Farris said the players were motivated to get the seniors one last win on their home court.
“The two seniors are nice girls and are well liked by everyone on the team,” Farris said.
The win pushes the Grenadiers record to 19-8 and 12-1 in the KIAC and clinched the No. 1 seed for the team in the KIAC tournament. With the No. 1 seed, the Grenadiers will get to host their first round opponent in the Activities Building.
The loss dropped Alice Lloyd to 8-15 overall and 4-7 in the KIAC.
From the outset, the Grenadiers dominated the Eagles on the glass and took control of the game with offensive rebounding and second chance points.
Alice Lloyd head coach Betty Noble-Acevedo said the Eagles lack of effort and hustle contributed to the Grenadiers ability to control the rebounding in the game.
“This was one of the first games we were out rebounded. You can’t win a game standing flat-footed,” Noble-Acevedo said.
The Grenadiers had more offensive rebounds at the half, 13, than the Eagles had total rebounds, 11.
“I had been on them about their rebounding, the last three games we have been out rebounded badly,” Farris said. “We had to step up a notch, we got to rebound aggressively. It was probably huge tonight.”
Whitney Duncan, junior guard, started off with the hot hand for the Grenadiers, scoring 7 of her 15 points at the beginning of the first half. Duncan hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired giving IU Southeast a 5-4 lead early in the game. Duncan then scored the next four points of the game on a layup and a jump shot. The Grenadiers never trailed after Duncan’s seven point scoring run early in the game.
“Whitney can dictate the game.” Farris said. “She gets better and better every game.”
Alice Lloyd was able to pull within three points at 22-19 midway through the first half. When the Grenadier lead was cut to three, Farris called a timeout to regroup his team.
Megan Murphy, sophomore forward, responded after the timeout hitting a 3-point shot as the shot clock expired while being fouled. Murphy hit the following free throw giving the Grenadiers a four-point play.
“We were lucky there. We didn’t deserve those baskets [two shots hit as the shot clock expired] but at least we got the shots up,” Farris said.
Krausse scored 12 of the Grenadiers final 19 points in the first half helping IU Southeast end the half on a 26-12 scoring run.
“I had no clue I had 12 of the last 19 points,” Krausse said. “I try to just play and not worry about my points. We were working as a team, [my points] all have to come from assists. Other teammates deserve the credit.”
The Grenadiers had 10 assists on 15 first half field goals and 20 assists on 27 field goals for the game.
Farris said his team wanted to get the ball inside to Krausse and try to take advantage of her scoring abilities.
Heather Martin, sophomore forward, scored nine points for the Eagles to start the second half and cut the Grenadier lead to 60-50.
Farris called a timeout after the Grenadier lead was cut from 17 points at the half to ten points after Martin’s free throw.
“We were letting them get back into the game and let them think they could beat us,” Farris said.
Krausse said the timeout helped the team get their heads back in the game.
“He wanted to stop their momentum,” Krausse said. “He lit a fire under our butts.”
The Grenadiers responded to Farris’s timeout with a 20-8 scoring run to put the game out of reach. IU Southeast hit three 3-pointers, five free throws, and three two point baskets during their scoring run.
Jasmine Cain, IUS freshman guard, added 10 points for the Grenadiers off the bench.
Alice Lloyd was led by Martin’s team high 21 points, 15 of those points came in the second half. Martin also snatched a game-high 13 rebounds for the Eagles.
“[Martin] is hard to stop,” Farris said. “We did try to deny her the ball. When she got the ball we wanted to help [guarding her] as much as we could. She is one of the best offensive players in the conference.”
After the game Farris said he was looking toward the team’s upcoming conference tournament.
Farris said his team was healthy and hoped to stay that way for a conference championship run in the KIAC Tournament.
Men’s game
The No. 3-ranked IUSmen’s basketball team sent its seven seniors out with a bang, as they defeated Alice Lloyd 122-80 on senior night.
The 122 points were a season-high for the Grenadiers.
Every senior scored, and six of them scored in double figures.
DeJon Gary, IUS senior guard, recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Craig Bryant, IUS senior guard, led all scorers with 23 points in the game.
Other double figure scorers for IU Southeast were George White, senior guard, with 20 points, Alex Gravelle, senior guard, with 19 points, Josh Lowery, senior guard, with 15 points and Calos Mitchell, senior guard, with 11 points.
The game began with a classy gesture by Alice Lloyd coach JR Hammond.
Hammond had his team allow IU Southeast to win the opening tip and called off the defensive pressure so Clay Ryan, IUS senior guard, who has been out with a knee injury, could score the opening basket of the game.
IUS head coach Wiley Brown then allowed Alice Lloyd to score an unconsted basket.
The win insured IU Southeast will have the No. 1 seed in the KIAC Tournament, which starts Feb. 23.
By JUSTIN RAY
Staff Writer
jusray@umail.iu.edu
