Western triumphant in upset over Golden Grizzlies
Mike Vaught
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Sports
It may not have been the upset of the year, but on Saturday afternoon the Western Illinois women's basketball team sent a message to the rest of The Summit League.
The Leathernecks went into the contest as the seventh seed on a two-game skid. They ended the game with a strong defensive performance in a 68-57 victory over No. 2 seed Oakland.
"Obviously, we are extremely excited to be here and this win over Oakland," said Western Illinois head coach Leslie Crane. "Oakland is a very good team. Our kids stayed with the game plan. They did a good job of slowing down their game.
Early in the opening half, the 'Necks found themselves down early, but a 7-0 run gave them a 12-11 lead seven minutes into the game. The rest of the half was a back and forth battle between the teams. The 'Necks and the Golden Grizzlies changed leads eight times in the half.
The 'Necks got their largest lead of the half after junior guard Anne Borgertpoepping hit a jumper to make it 19-15. Oakland reclaimed the lead with under a minute to go in the half and the 'Necks went into the break down by one, 32-31.
Oakland stretched the lead 36-31 to begin the second half, but an 11-2 run by the 'Necks gave Western a 42-38 advantage with 13 minutes remaining. Western would never relinquish their lead. With eight minutes remaining, the 'Necks took a 10-point lead, which was their largest of the night.
The Grizzlies climbed back within four points late in the game. Up by only two baskets, senior center Ashley Lord brought the lead back up to six on her only basket of the game. Lord's basket could not have come at a better time as it started the 'Necks' 9-3 run to end the game and helped Western to pull off the 68-57 upset.
The 'Necks showed off their third ranked defense by forcing 15 turnovers and held the Grizzlies to just 21.4 percent shooting in the second half and 30.4 percent for the game.
Western's offense on the other hand shot a season high 44.4 percent from the field and had three players score in double figures. The 'Necks were able to get 17 points off turnovers. All of this came against Oakland's top ranked defense.
The Leathernecks went into the contest as the seventh seed on a two-game skid. They ended the game with a strong defensive performance in a 68-57 victory over No. 2 seed Oakland.
"Obviously, we are extremely excited to be here and this win over Oakland," said Western Illinois head coach Leslie Crane. "Oakland is a very good team. Our kids stayed with the game plan. They did a good job of slowing down their game.
Early in the opening half, the 'Necks found themselves down early, but a 7-0 run gave them a 12-11 lead seven minutes into the game. The rest of the half was a back and forth battle between the teams. The 'Necks and the Golden Grizzlies changed leads eight times in the half.
The 'Necks got their largest lead of the half after junior guard Anne Borgertpoepping hit a jumper to make it 19-15. Oakland reclaimed the lead with under a minute to go in the half and the 'Necks went into the break down by one, 32-31.
Oakland stretched the lead 36-31 to begin the second half, but an 11-2 run by the 'Necks gave Western a 42-38 advantage with 13 minutes remaining. Western would never relinquish their lead. With eight minutes remaining, the 'Necks took a 10-point lead, which was their largest of the night.
The Grizzlies climbed back within four points late in the game. Up by only two baskets, senior center Ashley Lord brought the lead back up to six on her only basket of the game. Lord's basket could not have come at a better time as it started the 'Necks' 9-3 run to end the game and helped Western to pull off the 68-57 upset.
The 'Necks showed off their third ranked defense by forcing 15 turnovers and held the Grizzlies to just 21.4 percent shooting in the second half and 30.4 percent for the game.
Western's offense on the other hand shot a season high 44.4 percent from the field and had three players score in double figures. The 'Necks were able to get 17 points off turnovers. All of this came against Oakland's top ranked defense.
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