Women show signs of improvement
Commentary
Jack Nicholl
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Sports
Baby steps.
That's how I'll describe the women's basketball team so far this season.
I gave the 'Dogs a vote of confidence at the start of the season with a prediction that they would cruise to the MIAA Tournament. I had a fair amount of optimism.
But as with any young team, the women have had some ups and downs. At times, they seem to have made big strides. Other times, it seems they have barely been crawling. It's been an interesting season.
After starting 6-4, the team has just one win in its last eight games, including three double-digit losses.
But after watching Saturday's 64-57 win against Missouri Southern State University, I am confident that this team has not given up.
There was freshman forward Megan Sharpe fighting for loose balls in her first start of the season. Junior forward Bri Daniels was her usual self with three treys and 13 points. Senior guard Laura Joya had 11 points off the bench. Freshman forward Becka McHenry contributed 11 points and six assists. The team didn't collapse in the second half when Southern went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one.
Not to mention freshman point guard Amy Galey had the best game of her career with 15 points, four assists and zero turnovers. She was 10-for-11 at the line.
Clearly, there were a lot of good things about Saturday's game. It was a big stride in the season, especially because it was a game after the team scored only 33 against the University of Central Missouri last Wednesday - the worst Bulldog offensive output in 18 years and the worst shooting percentage by Truman since the conference tournament in 2006.
The team could have just thrown in the towel. They were three games back of a playoff berth. Head coach Michael Smith said a week ago, "The best coach in the country can't come in here right now and turn it around."
It seemed Saturday that the team is willing to improve.
Smith, despite some negative reactions after a couple of the losses, has done everything he can to keep the team going. He knows it's a growing process anytime a new coach enters a program.
That's how I'll describe the women's basketball team so far this season.
I gave the 'Dogs a vote of confidence at the start of the season with a prediction that they would cruise to the MIAA Tournament. I had a fair amount of optimism.
But as with any young team, the women have had some ups and downs. At times, they seem to have made big strides. Other times, it seems they have barely been crawling. It's been an interesting season.
After starting 6-4, the team has just one win in its last eight games, including three double-digit losses.
But after watching Saturday's 64-57 win against Missouri Southern State University, I am confident that this team has not given up.
There was freshman forward Megan Sharpe fighting for loose balls in her first start of the season. Junior forward Bri Daniels was her usual self with three treys and 13 points. Senior guard Laura Joya had 11 points off the bench. Freshman forward Becka McHenry contributed 11 points and six assists. The team didn't collapse in the second half when Southern went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one.
Not to mention freshman point guard Amy Galey had the best game of her career with 15 points, four assists and zero turnovers. She was 10-for-11 at the line.
Clearly, there were a lot of good things about Saturday's game. It was a big stride in the season, especially because it was a game after the team scored only 33 against the University of Central Missouri last Wednesday - the worst Bulldog offensive output in 18 years and the worst shooting percentage by Truman since the conference tournament in 2006.
The team could have just thrown in the towel. They were three games back of a playoff berth. Head coach Michael Smith said a week ago, "The best coach in the country can't come in here right now and turn it around."
It seemed Saturday that the team is willing to improve.
Smith, despite some negative reactions after a couple of the losses, has done everything he can to keep the team going. He knows it's a growing process anytime a new coach enters a program.
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