January 12, 2008...8:12 pm
Second Half Thoughts
The Coyotes are up by two points at 39-37, but it has been tied most of this half. The Coyotes have broken out the press and it has worked and it has frustrated Augie. They have two turnovers and almost forced a third but travel was not called, even though the Augie player picked up her pivot foot three times by my count. USD is starting to drive to the basket again and are getting fouled when they do. When they aren’t fouled their is still enough physical contact and it has been tough inside, but the Coyotes need to continue driving inside and converting the tough layups for them to win. There is 15 minutes left in the second half.
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The Coyotes were just dealt a huge blow as freshman Amber Hegge was just called for her fourth foul. Hegge’s defense on Holiday has been a major key in the second half. I usually don’t get on refs, but they have really turned in this second half. Hegge was called for a hold for her third foul which was a bad call. The ref who made the call didn’t have a clear look at it at all and just assumed. Then Hegge’s fourth foul came when Whitney Hofer had her back to Hegge and flopped backwards into Hegge and put in an underhanded backwards shot to draw the foul. I thought Hofer was the women’s equivalent to Vlade Divac on the acting job on the flop. This is a huge blow, not only to the defensive end, but Hegge was providing a great dribble-drive penetration on the offense end and is one of the factors why the Coyotes have been on top by a bucket for most of the second half. She has been a key in the press as well. The Coyotes are still up by a bucket at 48-46 with 11:42 to go.
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Jeana Hoffman just cannot get anything to fall again today. This is her second straight game in which her shot has been off. Hoffman is stuck at 999 points in her career, which includes her time at Texas State. Since pulling up at 999 points, she has been ice cold. That was clearly evident when she was fouled on a drive and went to the line and pushed her one on one attempt way to the left. Luckily, Jeana was just able to nail a three-pointer to cross the 1,000 point threshold just as I was writing this. They always say getting that milestone mark is the toughest, but once it comes, the floodgates open. Mostly I have observed that in baseball but I am hoping Jeana’s shots start to fall now. And once again, she just drove in for a shot, made it, and was fouled and is at the line. She missed the free throw, but put the Coyotes up 56-54 with 9 minutes left to go in the game.
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The Coyotes have gone on a run at the right time and have pulled out to a 64-55 lead with 7:12 to go in the game. The Coyotes are currently in a 10-2 run. Hopefully I don’t jinx them again, but the Coyotes have played great D, rebounded well, and have drawn the fouls on the penetration in the last five minutes. Oh, and Jeana Hoffman has been on fire. After having only two points in the first half, Jeana now has 17 points, with most of them coming in the last five minutes. The Coyotes have shot 46.2% for the game, a ten percent jump from the first half. The Coyotes have played physical defense with Augie in this half and Augie has not found the answer. Augie is only 5-18 from three point range and it has been their downfall in this game. The Coyotes now have a double-digit lead at 70-59 with 4:58 left to go in the game.
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The Coyotes have doing a very effective job at running out the clock. Their last two possessions down the court, they have gotten the shot clock down to 7 seconds on their shots. Both shots have been penetrations to the hoop and the Coyotes hit both shots. Amber Hegge just fouled out for the Yotes. Hegge had another impressive game with 9 points and 6 rebounds. Her penetration to the hoop was critical to the offense and the defense she provided in the low post was critical. Augie has crept back in the game though with the impressive shooting of guard Amy Puthoff. She just hit a three pointer to give her 25 points so far. Puthoff is 4 of 8 from three and and 8 of 14 overall. The Coyotes need to keep an eye on her down the stretch. The Coyotes are still up 74-70 with 1:05 to go as the Coyotes just called a 30 second timeout and have the ball. Stay tuned as I will keep this blog updated in the final minute and both teams in the double bonus. Jasmine Mosley just fouled out for the Coyotes. Mosley played great defense today just like Hegge.
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Augie converted on their free throws and then forced a Coyote miss and Ashley Holiday hit her shot to tie the game at 74-74. With 8 seconds left, the Coyotes just called a timeout and will have the last shot.
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Well the Coyotes got the shot they wanted. Hoffman took a three pointer from the top of the point but it hit the front of the rim and time expired. We will have overtime for the women’s game as the score it tied 74-74.
—-Justin Rust
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