November 29, 2000

TU women battle for win over Walsh

By Matt Steiner
Sports Writer

It wasn't a pretty basketball game at the Gillmor Center Tuesday. But, the Tiffin University women's team battled through a contest full of fouls and turnovers to pull off a 92-84 victory over Walsh.

"We didn't do the job defensively," Walsh head coach Theresa Berg said. "Anytime a team scores 92 points and they shoot 42 free throws, then we're not playing very good defense. And, defense is what's going to win games for us."

Foul shooting proved to be the difference. The Dragons scored 29 points from the charity stripe, while Walsh made 18 free throws.

Both teams found themselves in foul trouble tallying 13 apiece in the first half.

"We've had a problem with fouling," Tiffin coach Leslie Mugg said. "We're giving the officials the opportunity to make a questionable call. You can't do that. You just have to be in the right position. We're a step slow or a step late."

However, TU decreased its total to 11 after the intermission, while the Cavaliers continued to falter, committing 17 fouls in the second half.

The officials' whistle dictated much of the game. Early on, the calls were falling in favor of Walsh. In the first seven minutes of the game, Tiffin compiled eight fouls while the Cavaliers had just three.

The scoreboard reflected that as Walsh built an early 14-7 lead.

As Walsh began to get called for more fouls, the tide began to turn. Junior Jacki Swaisgood led the Dragon's back. Swaisgood scored 13 points for TU in first half, including a crucial three point play at the 5:30 mark.

Swaisgood banked in a turnaround jumper from the top of the key and was fouled by Walsh's Kerri Andrews. By converting the free throw, the 5-9 forward evened the score at 22 and began to sway the momentum TU's way.

"In the game of basketball, it's about momentum," Berg said. "We have to get some key stops and put a stop to their momentum and gain control. And we never got the key stops and they just kept building on that momentum and gained confidence."

The two teams traded baskets ending the half at a 35-35 deadlock.

After the intermission, Tiffin continued to build momentum. The score was tied at 44 with 15:58 left in the game. That's when TU increased the defensive intensity and began to make a run.

"We got some turnovers,we started to run and they got excited," Mugg said. "We want to get out and run and you can't do that unless you play defense."

The Dragons scored the next nine points. Jill Holland hit a running scoop. Katie McBroom sliced across the lane for a running leaner. Mary Ellen Hecker made a turn-around in the post. And, Nicki King knocked down a 3-pointer off the glass from the left wing, giving TU a 53-50 lead.

"The key was our bench," Mugg said. "We had a couple of freshmen who came in and did a great job for us. They were able to push the ball up and we kept coming at them."

McBroom led the TU offense in the second half with 10 points.

"She's doing an excellent job. She's a spunky point guard," Mugg said. "Katie comes in and really gives us some fire off the bench. Her and Nicki King do a great job doing that for us. They're quick, they're good shooters and they're good decision makers. They're able to give us that spark."

The spark turned to fire as Tiffin posted a 15-4 run.

The closed Walsh came to TU the rest of the way was an eight point deficit. The Dragons led by as many as 15 at one point.

Before the final buzzer sounded, Tiffin's Kyra Waltz and Tiffany Ward joined Walsh's Jana Smith as players who fouled out.

The Dragon's had 32 turnovers while Walsh turned the ball over 28 times.

Five Tiffin players found double figures, led by Swaisgood with 16 points. McBroom ended with 15, Holland scored 14 while Lawson and Hecker added 11 apiece.

Walsh's Kate Fishley topped all scorers with 26 points. Kerri Andrews had 13 for the Cavaliers. Marisa Rogers and Ashley Norman scored 12 each.