Friday, February 27, 2004
Women’s hoops to host Central Michigan
Chippewas have won just one conference game this season
Article by:
Adam Zolmierski - Sports Reporter
• azolmierski@northernstar.info
NIU women’s basketball coach Carol Hammerle knows not to overlook
an opponent, especially after last month’s loss to Akron, which
had lost its previous 20 MAC games.
The Huskies (10-15 overall, 5-9 MAC) will take on Central Michigan
(5-20, 1-13) at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center. CMU’s
lone conference win came last Wednesday in overtime over Akron.
“The MAC right now is an extremely balanced conference,”
Hammerle said. “I’m not so much looking back to Akron, but
it takes a special team to keep it together during this time of the
year. We need to beat Central and focus on the present — not the
past or the future.”
NIU will start freshman Stephanie Raymond at point guard, Rachel Sillar
at shooting guard and seniors Jennifer Youngblood, Lindsay Secrest and
sophomore Joi Scott at forward.
“That unit is just playing so well together right now,” Hammerle
said.
When the two teams squared up in Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 14, the Huskies
prevailed 74-59 for their first MAC win of the season.
The Chippewas are second to last in the conference in scoring at 57.7
points per game, but are sixth in scoring defense right behind the Huskies,
allowing 64.8 ppg.
No player on CMU averages in double digits for points. Casey Manning
is tops on the Chippewas at 9.6 ppg.
“Last time we played Central, we ran a full court press, and they
turned the ball over rather quickly,” Hammerle said. “We were
up 12-0 very quickly, so I think we’ll stick with the same game
plan and use our defensive efforts to attack their weaknesses.”
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