Walker shoots lights out in win
Ryan Ferguson
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: Sports
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"We moved the ball well, and it just so happened I was the one getting open," Walker said.
"We didn't recognize that (Walker) could shoot," said Chicago State coach Angela Jackson. "For whatever reason, we left her alone and she had a career night."
Overall, the guards were much more aggressive in attacking the basket and taking shots than they were in Saturday's loss to Valparaiso. Coach Leslie Crane said that had a lot to do with new offensive schemes that the players were still trying to grasp.
"When you're not sure, you have a tendency to stand and not run what you're supposed to run," Crane said. "I felt (Monday night) that things worked better within our offensive schemes."
The team's top offensive threat has been the guards all season. Saturday against Valparaiso, Crane said they were focusing more on running the plays than reading the defense. Against Chicago State (6-14), things took a change for the better.
"(Walker and junior guard Gina Hugelier) did a good job moving within those shooting spots," Crane said. "They moved to the spot that was open to get the shot off."
Walker was 9-12 from the field, 5-6 behind the three-point arc and four-of-four from the free-throw line.
Hugelier also put forth a career night in the points department with 14. Both she and Walker were one point away from the new highs with around seven minutes remaining. Moments later, both had new scoring highs at the hand of three-point field goals.
"It's always good to have another three-point threat," Walker said. The two guards each had a hand in the 11-0 run that began the second half.
"We definitely got out to a good start (in the second half), and I think that's what was important," Walker said. "We got the tempo the second half, and they were left playing catch-up rather than us playing catch-up."
Chicago State, a fast and athletic team, was forced to play from behind the entire second period, which allowed Western to take charge of the game.
"I felt we handled their pressure well with their quickness and speed," Crane said. "We did a much better job of taking care of the ball in the second half. We controlled the tempo and we controlled our destiny out there. We didn't let them dictate to us."
Cougars' guard/forward Ayesha Neasley, one of the top scorers for Chicago State, was held to only four second-half points, 12 overall. She went down with a left leg injury near the end of the game after an attempt to block a shot.
"She's a tough kid and I expect her to bounce back," Jackson said.
The 'Winds (7-12, 3-2) will resume their Mid-Con schedule on the road for the next two games, beginning Saturday tipping off against UMKC (7-13, 3-2) at 4 p.m.
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