Waldorf women pick up two league wins
By Chris Todd
Of The Summit
DUBUQUE - The Waldorf College women's basketball team has played itself right back into the Midwest Collegiate Conference title chase.
The Warriors got off to an 0-2 start in conference play prior to Christmas break but in the first week back, got back to .500 with wins over conference leader Grand View and struggling Clarke College.
“We're feeling good about ourselves right now,” said Waldorf coach Denny Jerome. “Things are starting to fall into place for us.”
Waldorf got a key win last Wednesday night by beating Grand View at Hanson Field House, 73-70. Grand View had started the conference schedule at 3-0. Falling to 0-3 and watching Grand View improve to 4-0 didn't look like a good option for the Warriors.
“It was a big win for us,” said Jerome. “We want to finish as high as we can in the conference to get a good playoff seed, and beating Grandview and winning two games this week will help us do that.”
Forward Rachel Hanna, a 5-foot-9 junior out of St. Ansgar, had a huge role in both wins. And, it was a rough night vs. Grand View. Late in the game, a Grand View player threw an elbow at Hanna and broke her nose.
Nevertheless, the gritty junior finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
She was just what the doctor ordered for Grand View's tall front line.
“Rachel isn't afraid to mix it up with bigger players,” Jerome said. “She's a really tough player who rebounds well and plays well inside for her size.”
The Warriors got some key play from other veterans, including Kate Milbrandt and West Hancock alum Sarah Swanson. Both players hit key shots throughout the game.
Early on vs. Grand View, the Warriors had their way, vaulting to a 17-point lead at one point in the first half. But by halftime, Grand View had cut the lead to 41-36.
Waldorf extended the lead to double digits again early in the second half, only to have to battle point for point down the stretch.
Swanson had another strong game, scoring a game-high 26 points on eight of 15 field goal shooting and 9 of 12 free throw shooting.
“We shot the ball well early, and that gave us a nice lead,” said Jerome. “Grand View is a good man-to-man defensive team but we were able to take them out of that defense and make them go zone against us.”
Milbrandt hit a key three down the stretch and played a strong floor game to go along with her 13 points.
Things were easier last Saturday afternoon in an 86-71 win over Clarke College in Dubuque.
“We didn't play that well early and it was just a six-point game at the half,” Jerome said. “We were more focused in the second half and shot the ball better.”
Leading 41-35, the Warriors went on a 17-5 run to take an 18-point lead with 11 minutes left. They cruised the rest of the way.
“Clarke College is struggling this year and at the bottom of the conference, so that's a road win we needed to have,” Jerome said.
Despite playing with a broken nose and a new mask to protect it, Hannam finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Swanson led the Warriors with 14 points while Milbrandt added 12. Freshman Aubrey Draves had a big day with 15 points on four of eight field goal shooting and seven of seven from the free throw line.
Story created Jan 13, 2009 - 21:50:30 CST.
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