Lady Crusaders headed in the right direction with back-to-back wins
Posted by The Skyliner on February 3rd, 2010Billy Cannada
Staff Writer
Senior Point guard Nikki Wood, who scored her 1,000th career point last week against Allen University, made two free throws to lead the Lady Crusaders to a 60-58 victory over Voorhees College on Jan. 28 in Hayes Gymnasium. The Lady Crusaders have won their last six games outscoring their opponents by an average of 20.8 points per game. The Lady Crusaders look to improve their season record tomorrow against Southern Wesleyan University at 5:30 p.m. in Hayes Gymnasium. (photo by Kari Weaver)
The Lady Crusaders are starting to turn things around with consecutive home victories against Brevard College and Voorhees College. The Crusaders have been on a roll as of late, after struggling over Christmas break. The Crusaders have now won five out of their last six games and are headed in the right direction.
“We are playing a lot better and with more confidence,” head coach Jayne Arledge said. “Hopefully we are on a little streak now.”
North Greenville was able to down Brevard College on Jan. 26 with a hot shooting night from Whitney Smith, senior accounting, as she knocked down four out of seven shots from behind the arch to lead the Crusaders to a 71-64 win. Other leading contributors for the Crusaders were Christina Carlis, freshman business administration, who had 10 points in the contest, and Krisceda Cotton, freshman sport management, who racked up her first double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Crusaders were able to get their ninth win of the season with a 60-58 nail-biter against Voorhees College in Hayes Gymnasium on Jan. 28. Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics, led the Crusaders to an early lead with 13 first half points, but it was Smith who stepped up in the second half, earning a team-high 14 points. Other top scorers for the Crusaders were Carlis with 10 points, and Nikki Wood, senior phsycology, with 13 points.
Wood hit some big free throws down the stretch to pull her team through in a cltutch situation.
“It was a tight game, so you know every shot counts,” Wood said. “Every time I shot, I knew it needed to go in for my team to win.”
The recent success for the Crusader’s has the team believing they can make a run in the regional tournament.
“These games are confidence boosters for us,” Wood said. “Putting the things we do in practice together is what is making a difference for us.”
“We are just trying to peak so maybe, come tournament time, we can take on some of the teams that beat us earlier this season,” Arledge said. “But I think we are playing with more confidence [down the stretch].”
The Crusaders took on King College last night in Bristol, Tenn. and will host in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. in Hayes Gymnasium.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 2