2004

Streifel had 16 pomts by half– bme as the Lady Royab earned a 35- 32 lead mto mterrniSSIOn Lake Region out-rebounded ECCC 25-13 m the fiJ'St half. ECCC's defense, however, did force the North Dakota team into 20 first-half turnovers. "The lead was good because our press was working, but then we quit rotating in the press and dido't get ~ack in transillon when we dido't score," Hodge srud "We mtssed some shots and couldn't get m the press as the result. "When we got m our press. we forced 20 turnovers at halfume. Our points offturnovers weren't \'ery good though. We just didn't capitalize on their mistakes and then we allowed them to shoot 55.6 percent (15-of-27) in the first half." The Lady Royals took their biggest lead of the game at 40-35 on a 3-pomter \\ith 16 25 remammg. The Lady Wamors respond– ed with a 12-0 run to go up 45-40. Chaney had two b1g play~ m the run as she converted a parr of three-point plays in a 1 5-second span to tie the game at 40 and later gave ECCC a three-point lead. The Lady Wamors never trailed again. "Coach (LaCole) Brooks made the suggestton that we go to our half-court trap, rather than fullcourt, and right off the bat they weren't pre– pared for that and we go from down five to up three. It was a qu1ck rum– around in three possessions." Hodge said ''And when we missed shots after the 12-minute mark ofthe second half, we fought and were relentless on tbe boards. We'd get two or three se

ECCC took a 38-27 lead mto the break after bemg ouhcored 13-4 over the final stx minutes. "We knew we started out hot and they were willing to stay m that zone and pack it in on us," Hodge sa1d. "They rolled the dice and stayed wnh it and we quit making those (3-pomt) shots and quit attacking mside. That gave them an opportunity to get back m n. Defensively, we were not rotatmg m the press when we picked them up." The Lady Wamors went scoreless for s1x-and-a-half mmutes midway through the second halfas the Coyotes rallied to within 46-39 on a 3- pointer of their own with I 0:30 left in the game. Viverette stopped the 8-0 nm with a basket with 9:19 remaming. She missed a free thrO\\ after gettmg fouled on the play. but when ECCC came up with the rebound, ViYerette stuck 11 back m for a 50-39 lead w1th 8:58 to play. ·'We were malong good stops, we just weren't malong any shots on our end," Hodge sa1d of the drought. "When that happens, that rim gets a little tighter and you start doubt– ing some things. We just had to keep doing what got us to that potnt. "Fortunately, we had that cushion that took that pressure off our defense early." ·lbe Coyotes got to w1thm seven again at 52-45 with 7:37 left on back-to-back baskets by Sandra Viksryte. ECCC's lndJa Backstromjust beat the shot clock for a 54-45 lead with 7:04 left. The fmal damage was done when Bender buried her fourth 3-point– er with 3:35 to go for a 63-48 lead From then on, the CoyOtes were content to get a basket here and there and let ECCC run the shot clock down Without fouling. Viverette led ECCC, 31-3, with 15 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Bender had 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Lenore Gray had II points, four rebounds, and two assists. Chaney had seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Cox had six pomts and three rebounds. while Rita Birden had four pomts, seven rebounds, four ass1sts, and three steals. Leverette had four pomts. ECCC shot 50 percent from the floor, making 22-of-44 attempts. The Lady Waniors were.l2- of-21 at the charity stripe. ECCC out

The Golden Eagles scored the fiJ'St four points ofthe second halfto take an eight-point lead. CSI went up 45-34 on a 3-pointer from Zimova with 9:07 left in the game. ECCC closed to within 45-38 on a basket from Rita Birden and a steal and layup by Cox with 7:49 to go. The Golden Eagles pulled out to the1r biggest lead of the game at 52- 34 on a 3-pointer from Andrea Sivakova of Slovakia with 3:5 I show– ing. ECCC went scoro!less for four minutes, 46 seconds until Bender made a free throw with 3:03 left. Bender's shot sparked a 10-0 ECCC mn that pulled the Lady Warriors to within 52-48 with 45 seconds still remammg. During the Lady Wanior run. K1myatta Viverette scored two baskets, the first of '"htch carne after she battled for a pair of offensiVe boards. Bender closed the run w1th a 3- pomter from just left of the top of the key. CSI made all six of its free throws over the final 44 seconds to seal the win. Bender led ECCC with I 0 points and five rebounds. Cox had nine points and three steals. Lenore Gray had seven points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Viverette had four points, e1ght rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. Kristin Chaney had five points, three rebounds and three assists. "I told the group they had nothmg to be ashamed of," Hodge said. "After all the other games we've lost, I've told them I hoped it stung a little bu. Let's don't let this one sting long because thiS sophomore group has done an outstanding job with their leadership thts year. They should be highly commended for the JOb they've done. "To go 31-4 with the group we had IS pretty spectacular. We fin– ished in the top eight in the country. Our objective was to find a way to play Saturday and we did that. I'm very proud of what these ladies have done. They've made me a better coach. They're pretty special." SidneyOrndorffled CSI with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four as:.1sts. Halaufia had 12 pomts, wh1le Zimova had II points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. ECCC 63, WEATHERFORD 52 Mission accomplished. After losing their first-round game in the NJCAA Division II