Two of my favorite teams came up on the wrong side of the scoreboard Saturday night, so this update won't be quite as fun. Still, those coaches and players are the ones going through it, not me, and I empathize greatly with them. I'm sure there are better days ahead.
GLENVILLE STATE NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S TEAM
Coach Bunky Harkleroad's squad had a tight one throughout in the final of the United Electric Tip-Off Classic in Louisville, Ky., hosted by Bellarmine University. The host school rallied in the second half and held off the Pioneers 102-93, dropping Glenville State to 1-1 on the season.
As I said, this one almost always was in doubt. Glenville State by six at the break, fell behind during an early run in the second half by Bellarmine, then battled back to regain the lead on a layup from Tenisha Wilson with 5 minutes left. That made it 89-88, and even my simple math skills tell me that the Pioneers were held to four points down the stretch.
The Knights regained the lead for good on the ensuing possession after Wilson's hoop, with Betsy Goodin converting a pair of free throws to make it 90-98.
Here are The Formula stats for the Pioneers:
- Attempted 87 shots
- Attempted 39 3-pointers
- Rebounded 30 percent of their own misses
- Forced 26 turnovers
- Attempted 15 more shots than Bellarmine
Wilson led Glenville State with 23 points, with Mishae Miles adding 21 points and 11 rebounds. Both of them made the all-tourney team. Ginny Petties finished with 17 points and four steals, while Kenyell Goodson scored 11 points.
The road doesn't get any easier for Coach Harkleroad and his team. After the ride home from Kentucky, they have a quick turnaround before traveling to Ohio Valley on Tuesday night to open the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST, and you know whom I want to win. (It's Glenville State, fool!)
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S TEAM
The Aggies opened their first full season with The System on Saturday, losing at home to Adams State 104-79.
The opening 7 minutes went well enough for OPSU, with two free throws from Michelle Kent giving her team an 18-12 lead. But the Grizzlies slowly pulled even and then ahead, using an 11-3 run at the end of the first half to pull to a 50-36 lead. The Aggies never got within 10 the rest of the way.
Here are The Formula numbers for OPSU:
- Attempted 80 shots
- Attempted 38 3-pointers
- Rebounded 25 percent of its own misses
- Forced 25 turnovers
- Attempted 16 more shots than Adams State
Quinae Thomas led the way with 14 points, and Teenie Kent and Nicole Buhl added 11 apiece.
I hate it for coach Brad Vanden Boogaard, but I know (as he does) that there are better days ahead. Hopefully, his team got a good appreciation of what The System is all about and will use that knowledge going forward. That will start Tuesday night with a trip to Eastern New Mexico University, with the game scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Go, Aggies.
Tuesday is shaping up to be a big night for The System. In addition to Glenville State and OPSU, we will have: the NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene (3-0) returning to the court at St. Catherine College in Kentucky; Knox College opening its first season with this style at Cornell College, the NJCAA women's team at Jackson (Mich.) Community College (2-0) traveling to face the Davenport JV team; and the girls' team at Galesburg (Ill.) HS beginning its season at home against Dunlap.
Whew, that is a lot. I hope to be there to cover all the action, even if it is a day or so after it takes place. The best of luck to all our teams.
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