Women's Basketball

UC Women Win Home Opener
December 4, 2005

By Tommy R. Atkinson
Staff writer, Sunday Gazette-Mail

University of Charleston coach Sherry Winn always teaches and implores from the sideline a team concept. The Golden Eagles more than made her proud Saturday night.

With leading scorer Lisa Lee in foul trouble most of the game, the Golden Eagles responded every time she went to the bench with scoring runs to keep Concord at bay and eventually overpowered the Mountain Lions for an 83-64 victory in both teams’ West Virginia Conference women’s basketball opener.

A crowd of about 200 attended UC’s home opener at Eddie King Gym. The Golden Eagles (5-0 overall, 1-0 WVC), ranked No. 1 in the College Hoops Illustrated preseason poll, began the year with four straight victories on the road.

Lee, a former Capital High School standout who is averaging 19.3 points, sat out the final four minutes, 21 seconds of the first half after picking up her third foul and UC clinging to a 29-26 lead. The Golden Eagles closed out the half with a 10-0 run to take a 39-26 advantage into the break. Lee’s replacement, freshman forward Jihann Williams, sparked the surge with six inside points.

Lee quickly picked up her fourth foul just 2:44 into the second half with UC holding a 40-30 edge. The Golden Eagles went on a 13-5 run to take a commanding 55-37 lead with 13:45 to go, an advantage they would never relinquish. UC junior point guard Courtney Thomas tallied five straight points on a 3-pointer and mid-range jumper to highlight the run.

"I think that’s what it is to be a team,’’ said Winn. "You can’t just depend on one player. When one player is out, you have answers to that. I think it’s awesome that we have players who feel very comfortable stepping in and filling the shoes. When [Concord] scored, we had an answer for it. It’s hard to shut us down.’’

Lee returned with 9:42 left and netted six points, including a layup to begin a 9-0 burst after Concord closed to nine for a 75-57 lead with 4:20 to go that effectively put the game on ice.

Lee led five players in double figures with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added six rebounds. Williams recorded her first double-double with 13 points and 10 boards filling in for Lee.

Thomas, who scored her 1,000th career point in the second half, added 13 points on 6-of-10 accuracy and five assists. Winn presented the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native, who now has 1,003 career points, with a replica game ball at midcourt after calling timeout with 59.6 seconds to go.

UC junior guard Erica McElroy added 12 points and four assists and junior forward Rachel Pike contributed 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, six boards, three assists and five steals.

"We just stuck together as a team,’’ said Thomas. "It’s always a team effort. If Lisa goes on the bench with fouls, we know we have to move the ball in the paint, then outside to our shooters. We were just trying to move the ball [and] push the ball.’’

UC shot 53.1 percent while holding Concord to 38.6 percent, including 28 percent in the opening half. The Golden Eagles’ defense also forced 21 turnovers.

For Concord (2-2, 0-1), sophomore forward Becca Flanagan led the way with 19 points on 5-of-11 accuracy and a 9-of-9 effort at the foul line. The Mountain Lions felt the absence of junior Jamie Cluesman, a two-year starter at point guard and an all-freshman team selection two years ago, after she dislocated her arm about a week into practice.

"[UC’s] pressure is what the difference in the game was,’’ said Concord coach Kenny Osborne. "Turnovers in critical situations. Right now we’re trying to search for a point guard. At times we had three freshmen on the floor. We’ve got to take care of the ball.’’