Co-Lin bounces back against Lincoln Trail
Published 6:42 pm Friday, March 19, 2010
SALINA, Kan. -The Co-Lin Lady Wolves came back strong Thursdayafternoon and posted a 75-56 win over the Lincoln Trail (Ill.) LadyStatesmen in the consolation bracket of the 2010 NJCAA Women’sNational Basketball Tournament. The No. 3 nationally-ranked LadyWolves improved to 29-2 with the win.
Co-Lin meets Walters State (Tenn.) today at 2 p.m. Walters Stateeliminated Williston State, N.D. 51-40 Thursday.
This was the 746th career win for head coach Gwyn Young atCo-Lin.
“We did a lot better offensively but we still missed some easyones,” said Young, whose team shot 54 percent from the field.
“We shot our free throws pretty good,” said Young after watchinghis team make 25 of 37 from the free throw line. “Rachel (Vigers)and Latoria (Holder) had a good game.”
Vigers worked inside for 20 points and seven rebounds.
“For sure, we have been struggling for the last 11-12 gamesoffensively,” Young noted. We missed some easy shots we normallymake.
“Defensively, I thought we did a pretty good job on the outside,”Young added. “For the most part, we were out there prettygood.”
The Wolves limited Lincoln Trail to 29 percent field goal shooting.Lateidra Elliott, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard from Louisville, Ky.,led the Statesmen and all scorers with 24 points, making 4 of 8treys.
After three early ties, the Wolves broke a 6-all deadlock and neverlooked back. At the 4:42 mark, Co-Lin led Lincoln Trail 22-13.Vigers nailed back-to-back buckets to give the Wolves a 31-21 leadwith 3:18 showing. The Wolves were up by as much as 14 points inthe first half.
Brandi Simmons started the second half with 2 points and pushedCo-Lin’s lead to 35-23 and spark an 8-0 run. Simmons, a 5-10freshman from Jackson (Murrah), finished with 13 points and ninerebounds. The Wolves led by at points, 41-25, with 14:45 left inthe game.
“Walters College looks like they have good guards,” said Young.”They have good athletes to go too. We will have our work cut outfor us.”
Holder, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, said Co-Linwas overdue to have a better game.
“I’m happy to win,” said Holder, a sophomore from Lumberton. “Weplayed better defense and shot the ball a lot better. We reboundedbetter, too. We came out here to win some games.”
The Statesmen reduced their deficit to 10 points, 59-49, on abasket by Brittany Fisher with 6:32 left to play. Co-Lin respondedwith an 11-0 run, hitting 9 of 10 free throws and getting a layupby Holder for a 70-49 advantage.
Co-Lin overcame 22 turnovers and stayed alive in the tournament. Awin today would place them in Saturday’s consolation final at 1p.m.