Women’s basketball shots 26 percent in loss to UIC

By Mitch Barnett
Western Herald

(Chyn Wey Lee/Western Herald) WMU freshman guard Aurielle Anderson goes for a layup against Jessie Miller Sunday.

On Sunday, University Area was alive with excitement as the Western Michigan University Broncos (3-6) took on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames (2-6).  This was an important game for the Broncos, especially for one, junior Taylor Manley, who in her freshman year attended UIC.

However, UIC beat WMU 69-47.

The Broncos opened the game on a good note when Manley put up five easy points. However, the tides began to change early on when the Flames opened up to an early lead.  At the 12 minute mark in the first half UIC had a six point lead and they never looked back from there.  On the game, the Flames had four players score in double digits.

“In our 1-6 start this year one of our struggles has been scoring,” UIC head coach Lisa Ryckbosch said.  “In order to be productive on the offensive end you have to be effective on the defensive end and I feel that we did a good job of that today.”

At the end of the first half the score was 39-28 UIC.

In the second half, not a lot changed for the Broncos.  UIC was able to get a lot of easy shots especially in the paint where they outscored the Broncos for the game 44-20.   Nothing went well for the Broncos.  In the second half alone they shot 6-for-33 from the field and were out rebounded 24-18.  UIC on the other hand shot 11-for-22.

“If your shots aren’t falling and your not able to rebound, its going to lead to offensive breaks for your opponent,” WMU head coach Tasha McDowell said.

It was a frustrating and emotional loss for the Broncos on Sunday.  There wasn’t much to cheer about. The Broncos’ 47 points being a season low and they shot 18-for-67 on the game, a 26.9 field goal percentage. It was the third straight game that sophomore Miame Giden was held to single digit points after scoring a career-high 31 against Southern Illinois University.

“I think the frustration comes from not playing to the ability that we know we can,” senior Molly Dwyer said.  “Over this break I’m going to evaluate myself all around and try and be a better leader for this team.”

“I really don’t know where my team is at right now,” McDowell said.  “I really don’t think we came out the way we should have.  Obviously we are having some shooting issues.  We are shooting the ball well in practice but in games, to shoot 26 percent, is dismal.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt0Dqi7i9hY[/youtube]

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Posted by heraldstaff on Dec 13 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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