March 15, 2008...2:33 am
That’s karma for you….
If the first game of the North Central Regional tournament told us anything, it was going to be a different day of basketball then what was expected. Wayne State came into the game against North Dakota with the Coyote game plan against UND in hand. Well, if you are going to pick a game plan, pick the right one, which is what Wayne did as they knocked off North Dakota 85-78.
UND started the game off with the lead, and lead 16-11 with 12:31 left to go in the first half. Wayne would cut into the lead and then grab the lead 17-16 with 10:51 to go in the first half. Wayne’s biggest lead would be by 16 and they lead by 12 at halftime 38-26.
UND had a 22-15 advantage on the boards at the half, but once again the downfall of UND would be in the turnover department. At the half, Wayne forced 13 turnsovers from UND and only committed three turnovers.
UND was able to whittle down Wayne’s lead in the second half and tied the game at 64 with 7:22 left, but Kylee McGill of Wayne hit a Robin-esqe three pointer to put Wayne back up. Wayne was able to hold off UND and specially forward Kierah Kimbrough, who had 29 points and six rebounds. The barrage of three pointers from UND in the last minute didn’t fall and Wayne came away with a victory that left the North Dakota faithful speechless. At least North Dakota stayed on the court to shake hands this time.
Kimbrough was the only consistent player for UND, even though guard Karla Beck ended up with 15 and 3 from 6 from three point range. UND was able to hit some big threes in the game to keep in close in the second half, which UND isn’t really accustomed to doing, unless it is against USD.
Another thing Wayne did was expose Langen’s lack of athleticism. She was unable to establish herself offensively and only took six shots in the game, hitting only two of them. Langen ended up with only four points and seven rebounds in the game in 25 minutes.
In the end, Wayne forced 20 turnovers and only committed ten. Despite UND having a size advantage and more experience, they were only able to out-rebound Wayne 36-34.
McGill ended the game with 17 points and six rebounds after fouling out with a minute left in the game. Reserve forward Mara Hjelle played well inside as she ended up with 17 points and five rebounds. Guard Laquisha Cook added 19 points and was constantly causing problems defensively for UND. Cook only had two steals, but was constantly poking the ball loose any time a UND guard held the ball remotely near Cook. Guard Andrea Schoepf also had 19 points and eight assists.
Wayne State was my dark-horse of the tournament and thought they could create major problems for any team they played. They are just a young team, sort of like USD women’s team last year. Remember, this was a Wayne State team that almost beat USD down in Wayne this year if it weren’t for a Jeana Hoffman three-pointer to win the game.
UND’s season is now over. A fourth game for USD is not in the cards, as they suffered their usual hangover after playing USD. Wayne will advance after leaving North Dakota wondering what lays ahead for them at Division-I.
Congrats Wayne, savor the flavor of that big victory. I know everyone who wasn’t from North Dakota did.
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