The Lady Colonels basketball team knocked off the Southwest Texas Lady Bobcats 65-54 to get their second straight home victory. The Lady Colonels, who were coming off of a road loss to Southeastern, overcame a tough Bobcat ball club.
“I am extremely proud of the way our girls battled tonight to get this win. We had to overcome the fatigue of going on the road, losing that game, and coming back to prepare for Southwest Texas. Despite all those elements, we found a way to win,” Louise “Do” Bonin, head women’s basketball coach, said.
The Lady Colonels once again had strong games from senior forwards Jennifer Posey and Mandy Broussard. They out rebounded the Bobcats 46-33. Fourteen of those rebounds came on the offensive end. That enabled them to have many second-chance baskets.
“I cannot say enough about the way we rebounded tonight. We were very aggressive on both ends. In a game that went back and forth, the ability to rebound is very important,” Bonin said.
“The guard play for the Lady Colonels continues to improve.”
Senior guard Lisa Lawrence and junior guard Deandra Walter kept the Bobcats off balance with penetration.
“Deandra has been playing very well for us. She is helping us at the two-guard, and she is also backing Lisa at the point. Deandra really helps us with her game experience.
“Lisa does a great job of getting after it on defense. Both of these girls give us a very effective one-two punch,” Bonin said.
Bonin said that she was pleased with their ability to break the press and their performance at the line.
“The difference this game against the press was our in-bounding strategy. We in-bounded with a guard instead of a post. That allowed us to flash our big people more. We also were on more of an attack mode against the press. Not only did we want to break the press, but score in the process. At the line, we were right where we needed to be, which was 81 percent shooting,” Bonin said.
Emotional play was evident for the Lady Colonels in this contest.
“We made it a point to get enthusiastic tonight. The crowd was really into it, and we just wanted to execute well,” Walter said.
Sophomore guard Jessica Gipson said that the Lady Colonel’s defense played a big role in creating offensive opportunities.
“Our defense was one of the turning points to tonight’s victory. One thing that we always focus on is defensive pressure. The baskets will come because of that. We work very hard at practice,” Gipson said.
The Lady Colonels held the Bobcats to 38 percent shooting on the night. The leading scorer, Tori Talbert, was reduced to just four points.
“We never wanted to let up. Whenever it is time to buckle down and make it happen, we are always up to the challenge,” Lawrence said.Texas-San Antonio 68, Nicholls 50
The Lady Colonels fought an uphill battle throughout as they tried to keep pace with the Texas-San Antonio Lady Roadrunners. The Lady Roadrunners sprinted out to leads of 15 and 20 points, en route to 68 to 50 victory last Saturday night.
“We just did not make the plays tonight. San Antonio came into tonight’s game with a heck of a game plan, and they executed. I thought our girls played hard, but we just got beat tonight,” head basketball coach Louise “Do” Bonin, said.
The Lady Roadrunners shot an outstanding 80 percent on the night. They also were 4 for 6 from the three-point line. Center Tanisha Jackson, and forwards Julie Rampley and Dewella Holliday all combined for 42 points on the night.
“We knew coming into here that this would be a tough place to play. Nicholls always gives a defensive challenge, and we knew we had to play. Our kids hit some big shots tonight,” Rae Blair, Lady Roadrunners head coach, said.
In a losing effort, freshmen Ami Benya had solid game with seven points, and four rebounds.
“I have the luxury of learning from talented players in front of me. I felt comfortable out there, and I am just looking to improve every night,” Benya said.
The Lady Colonels look to bounce back against Lamar.
“We did not play as well as we knew we could. This team will not give up. We will stick together, and come out firing next time,” junior forward, Kaci Fulton, said.