The Observer, February 8, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 16
Second-half run propels Spartans over No. 21 NYU
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The Case women's basketball team welcomed February with two exciting games. The varsity squad successfully rebounded from a very tough overtime loss on Friday with an impressive win over a nationally ranked conference opponent Sunday afternoon.
On Friday, the visiting Judges from Brandeis University overcame senior Ashley Horton's eighth double-double of the season. The Judges defeated the Spartans in a hard-fought battle, which ended 67-65 in overtime. Horton played an all-around stellar game, and was helped by fellow senior guard Mary Herendeen. The pair was able to set an early tone and put the Spartans into an early 17-14 lead. Herendeen scored seven points in the first 10 minutes of the game. Horton helped in extending the Spartan lead to 22-14 by scoring five points on back-to-back possessions. Horton's fourth three-pointer of the season, which led a 7-0 run in the first period, swished through right before the shot clock expired. As a team, the Spartans knocked down five shots from three-point range in the first half, which brought them to a 32-24 halftime lead. Unfortunately, even on the heavily promoted Hawaiian night in Horsburgh Gym, paradise didn't last as long as the women had hoped.
The Judges came out of the locker room strong, and went onto an 8-0 run to tie the game in the first few minutes. After coach Jennifer Reimer called a quick and well-used timeout, the Spartans responded with authority by going on an 8-0 run of their own. Up 40-32, sophomore guard Ashleigh Tondo had confidence that the team would be able to control the rest of the game. "I thought we had a good game plan at that point and we were playing lockdown defense," she said. The Spartans went a little cold from the field soon thereafter, and the women from Brandeis managed to tie the game with a little less that nine minutes left. The Judge's Lauren Orlando squirted in a reverse lay-up with just 24 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 57. A missed shot at the end of regulation sent the Spartans into what was their first overtime game in over three years. The competitive nature of the game took a toll on both teams, but the two battled it out until the very end.
Each traded baskets throughout the entire extra period, and simply put, Brandeis was able to knock down that last clutch shot. Amanda Wells of Brandeis hit a dagger with a defender breathing down her back with only five seconds left. She clinched the Judges' ninth-straight win over Case. Looking at the stats after the game was not telling of how close the game really was. The Spartans shot 41.3 percent in the game, but played the Judges into tough shots, allowing a low 34.3 shooting from the field. The clutch shots when it counted are what put Brandeis over the top in this very close matchup. Look for the Spartans to exact revenge next week at Brandeis. The two teams play on Feb. 10.
Case's second game of the weekend was a bit more decisive. With a victory on Sunday, Case improved their conference record to 3-4 and overall record to 10-8. What is so impressive about this weekend's win is not only that it followed a tough, nail-biting loss to Brandeis, but it was against one of the nation's top teams, New York University. The squad was led especially by Tondo. She was able to score 18 points, grab 12 rebounds, and distribute the ball, with six assists in the game. The visiting Violets came into the game with a formidable 13-4 record. Coach Jennifer Reimer kept her team confident, telling them that "we can compete with anyone in this division, it's just a matter of executing on a consistent basis." Junior forward Colleen Martin and freshman guard Caitlin Henry extended the Case lead in the first half by knocking down free throws and making a pair of lay-ups. Although the ladies were able to get to the foul stripe, the Spartans trailed at the half 35-29 due to overall poor shooting, 23.3 percent from the field. The Spartans came out strong in the second half and Tondo put the Spartans up 40-38 five minutes into the second half. The Spartans were able to put the game away by riding a 22-5 run to extend the lead to 64-48 with six minutes remaining. They would go on to win by a final score of 70-58.
One of the main reasons that the Spartans had the advantage in the second half was rebounding and strong defense. Patience on the offensive glass and the ability to box out the girls from NYU contributed to a 54-40 rebounding advantage for the Spartans. The girls look to build on the win, and will be in action again on Sunday when they compete against NYU in New York. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
