Practice makes perfect.
Brianne Miles, junior guard, is aware of this old saying. Miles scored 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including four 3-pointers as the Grenadiers defeated host Berea College on Jan. 22.
Rewind the clock 24 hours to find the key to Miles’s hot shooting. After Friday’s team practice, Miles stayed for extra shooting drills under the guidance of head coach Robin Farris.
“Coach said my shot looked a little flat, so we decided to work on it,” Miles said. “I gave myself a little pep talk, and I was ready for the game.”
The game was played at the Seabury Center, a $10.5 million multipurpose wellness complex on Berea’s campus.
No one knew what to expect upon entering the Berea gymnasium. However, many had assumptions.
“I thought it would be a hostile environment after last year’s events,” Miles said.
Last year, a scuffle broke out between IU Southeast’s men’s team and Berea. The scuffle even made national headlines.
Maybe the officials were thinking the same thing could happen with the women’s teams, which could explain why head coach Robin Farris was issued a technical a minute into the game.
The crowd barely had enough time to settle into their seats before the official blew his whistle at Farris for lightly protesting a foul called on one of his players.
A warning usually precedes a technical, but Farris wasn’t granted one. When Farris asked about the warning or lack of, the officials gave him the silent treatment.
Despite receiving the technical foul, the Grenadiers controlled the game from the very beginning. There wasn’t going to be a slow start for the offense as the Grenadiers jumped out to a 20-12 lead at the 10- minute mark in the first half.
The game got a little sloppier when several fouls were called, but the Grenadiers led by double digits most of the first half. IU Southeast dictated the flow of the game and capitalized on several Berea turnovers.
The Grenadiers enjoyed great shooting in the first half, including 10 3-pointers and entered the locker room with a 40-25 halftime lead.
The pace of the second half was slowed tremendously due to more fouls being called, but IU Southeast led by as many as 20 points.
Berea tried to climb back into the game by getting some early lay-ups, but the Grenadiers stepped up the defensive effort.
Halfway through the second half Berea hit consecutive 3-pointers but was unable to get the lead under 15.
This was the fifth time IU Southeast scored more than 80 points in a game this season.
The 3-point shooting was largely responsible for the 84-point effort. The Grenadiers shot 12 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Assistant Midway coach Bernie Merkel was happy with the 48 percent shooting from 3-point range but reminded his team they can’t always rely on outside shooting.
Merkel said he was also happy his team was able to intensify their defense.
“They made a few easy baskets in the second half,” Merkel said. “Then we stepped up defensively and didn’t let them gain any more confidence.”
The Grenadier’s balanced scoring was led by the trio of Miles, Ashmere Woods, sophomore guard, and Nicole Holman, senior guard, who each scored 14 points.
Holman and Miles accounted for eight of the 12 3-pointers the Grenadiers made.
“It was all about playing with confidence,” Miles said. “We buckled down on defense and got the win as a team.”
With a 19-point win on the road, the Grenadiers received the message loud and clear.
By GARRETT TAYLOR
Staff
gartaylo@imail.iu.edu
