Strong Bench Performance Helps in Women’s Basketball Victory
Before the Waynesburg University’s women’s basketball team’s season started, head coach Sam Jones knew his team would play an up-tempo style of basketball. He also knew that this method would lead to plenty of high scoring affairs.
Therefore, when the basketball team defeated Defiance College on Saturday, Nov. 19, by a score of 87-79, the high box score did not come as a surprise to him.
”I was a little surprised that [Mekai White] from Defiance had six threes,” said Jones. “Honestly, I was focused on getting a win.”
The Jackets followed up a tough 64-56 loss to Bluffton on Friday, Nov. 18, by closing their two game run in the PSU-Behrend Tournament with a win, improving to 2-1 on the season. It was a tight contest throughout, as the Jackets held a 34-33 lead at the half. But after going on a 7-0 run late in the third quarter, taking a 50-45 lead, the Jackets never looked back and hung on.
Fatigue was a hurdle for the Yellow Jackets, as they were just hours removed from a tough loss to Bluffton University the previous night.
“I think we struggled with it at times,” said Jones. “A couple of our bigs picked up foul trouble, which they had been doing a good job of staying out of. We were a little slower at times I think because of [the quick turnaround], but I think we picked up late in the game and got a bit of a flow going.”
One of the key reasons for Waynesburg’s triumph against Defiance was sophomore point guard Monica Starre. She posted 14 points to go along with six assists.
“She’s going to do a great job”, said Jones. “She was pretty good last year, and she’s done a nice job of expanding her game. She worked hard to expand her game as far as [scoring] was concerned. She’s always been a great passer, and she’s also done a good job of that so far this year.”
As with all sports, depth is a crucial part of basketball. Waynesburg showed plenty of it on Saturday, as three different players combined for 22 points off the bench.
“We’re a very talented team with lots of people who can contribute,” said Jones. “We had five girls in double figures today and another girl with 9 [points], so obviously that’s a big help.”
As usual, the star of the game on Saturday for Waynesburg was its outstanding junior forward, Addy Knetzer. Thought to be one of the most dominant players in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, Knetzer played well on both sides of the ball, contributing 22 points and eight rebounds.
Starre and teammate Katie Gehlmann scored 14 points each; Haley Delany scored 12, while Mackenna Drazich and Julie Deklaven combined for 19 off the bench.
As good as Knetzer is as a forward, a big concern for Jones is lack of interior depth. However, he understands that Waynesburg needs to work with what it has down low.
“We can’t make a trade with Bluffton for their backup post player,” said Jones. “So [interior depth] is not an area where we can improve.”
Of the things that his team can improve on, Jones sees taking care of the basketball as an essential.
“We turned the ball over too much on Friday night and last Tuesday,” said Jones.
Waynesburg struggled with taking care of the basketball in the first half on Saturday, turning the ball over seven times. However, the Yellow Jackets cleaned things up in the second half, only turning it over twice in the home stretch.
Waynesburg’s start to the season has been a busy one, as it played three games between Tuesday and Saturday. This week will be equally taxing, as the Yellow Jackets will play three more games, starting Tuesday, Nov. 22, when Carnegie Mellon University (3-0) travels to the Rudy Marissa Fieldhouse, followed by their PAC opener at Bethany on Wednesday, and another conference tilt at home against Grove City College on Saturday.
“I think we should fire the guy who makes the schedule, which would be me,” Jones joked. “You try and schedule as best you can, but with rules about when you can play and when you can’t play, and the conference schedules made for you, sometimes you just have to fit (games) when you fit them in.”
By the same token, Jones cites the non-conference games as a positive due to the quality competition.
“We’re going to be tested against good teams,” said Jones. “I think that only bodes well for us going into conference play.”
Waynesburg is back at Marissa Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Nov. 22, taking on Carnegie Mellon at 6 p.m.