Eagles fall short in loss to BOLD

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM - When you are a team struggling for your first win of the season, many times even statistics can go against you.

BOLD hit only 15 of 65 shots from the field for 23 per cent and almost blew an 18-point fourth quarter lead to topple New Ulm 46-28 Tuesday night in non-conference girl"s basketball.

Anne Osthus led the Warriors (4-1) with a game-high 12 points with Lindsay Kuzina adding 11.

Amanda Rosenau, Tif Drill and Liz Dannenberg each scored eight points for the Eagles (0-5).

New Ulm gets back into South Central Conference play Friday night when they travel to USC.

"The effort was there again," said Eagle coach Brad Metter. "They played hard all the way through the game and they gave themselves a chance in the fourth quarter - they got a little run which is something that we have not seen much this year. We gave ourselves a chance.""

That chance came after BOLD, who held a 31-17 lead after three quarters, used two free throws followed by a basket from Anne Osthus to build their lead to a comfortable 35-17 lead with just over six minutes left in the game.

But an Amanda Rosenau rebound bucket sparked that run that Metter talked about as the Eagles outscored BOLD 11-1 to slice the Warrior lead to a slim eight points at 36-28 after Tid Drill hit her third free throw in less than 10 seconds.

However, New Ulm would turn the ball over three straight trips down the floor (19 turnovers in the game) without getting a shot off. That lead to two Warrior free throws by Megan O"Neil and an Osthus rebound bucket that increased BOLD"s lead to 40-28.

Karen Grasmon"s short jumper with 1:50 left in the game saw the Warriors back on top comfortably at 42-28 with less than two minutes to go in the game.

"We need to eliminate those turnovers," commented Metter. "And I talked to the girls about how we got that little flow in the fourth quarter; we made some steals, forced some errors and got a little run. That is one of the first times that I have seen that this year. I told the girls that that is something that we want to see more. We have had to much herky-jerky stuff that takes our momentum away."

BOLD would take a 9-6 lead after one quarter and increase that to a big 20-8 lead halfway through the second quarter aided by the fact that Tif Drill was forced to the Eagles" bench with two first quarter fouls and did not return to the floor until three minutes were gone in the second quarter.

"We need to keep Tif out of foul trouble."said Metter. "We need her in there; she is just a person that is a leader on the floor and plays good defense for us."

With Drill riding the pines, BOLD got second, third and fourth shots at baskets, surviving a 1-for-11 span in the first four minutes of that quarter.

Amanda Rosenau would provide all the Eagle offense in the second quarter with her four points as the Warriors assumed a 24-10 halftime lead depite hitting only nine of 36 shots from the floor compared to five-of-14 for the Eagles.

"To many second chances - we work on rebounding every day. We are going to be outsized most games," Metter said. "We were not really outsized tonight but we did not do a good job of boxing out."

"We know that this game and the game with Waseca (a 38-23 loss) were both winnable games," said Metter. "We talk about the importance of having fun on the floor but we also need a win. The girls are doing a nice job of keeping their spirits up and getting better each game. But that "w" would really be nice."

New Ulm lost the "B" squad game 47-27. Coressa Leighty led New Ulm with eight points.

The Eagle "C" squad notched an easy 40-14 win with Jenny Clobes scoring 16 points.

BOLD 9-15-7-15=46

NEW ULM 6-4-7-11=28

BOLD (46):Osthus 12, Kuznia 11, Wallenta 7, Grasmon 5, O"Neil 4, Ebbers 4, Halliday 2, Garberich 1.

NEW ULM (28): Rosenau 8, Drill 8, Dannenberg 8, Gorres 2, Kitzberger 2..