Lady Indians Defeat The Lady Devils
The Lady Indians defeated the Decatur Community Lady Red Devils in both games played on Friday, February 10, in Oberlin. St. Francis won the varsity contest 44-32 and the three-quarter junior varsity game 27-16.
In the varsity contest, St. Francis earned a 4-0 lead getting a left-wing score by Zoe Sundstrom (assist Taighe Weeter) and an out-of-bounds play basket by Weeter (assist Hanna Bracelin). Late in the quarter, Decatur Community's (DC) Jenna Long (5' 7" senior) scored on a offensive rebound for the Lady Red Devils. The quarter was marked by numerous turnovers and poor shooting by both teams. The Lady Indians led 4-2 after one period of play.
The scoring picked up a bit in the second quarter as both teams began to find the basket with more regularity. Taighe Weeter opened the period with two free-throws. Karly Bandel added a steal-two which triggered a DC time-out at 6:27. A steal and assist by Weeter set up a score by Jylian Laten giving the Lady Indians a 10-2 lead. Back-to-back scores by Decatur Community, the second coming after a Lady Indian turnover, resulted in a St. Francis time-out at 2:47. After the time-out, Emileigh Dinkel scored from the left elbow after an assist by Zoe Sundstrom. Another St. Francis turnover resulted in a score by DC's Alyssa VanVleet (5' 8" freshman). Though the Lady Indians did not shoot well and committed 16 turnovers in the first half, St. Francis led 12-8 at the halftime break.
The Lady Indians played better in the second half limiting turnovers to ten and shooting better from the field. The Lady Indians scored the first two baskets of the third period receiving a left-wing deuce and a trey from Taighe Weeter (assists Zoe Sundstrom and Karly Bandel). DC answered with a score resulting from another Lady Indian turnover. Weeter's next basket, a trey from the left-corner (assist Regan Beims) gave the Lady Indians a 10-point lead (20-10). After a St. Francis time-out at 4:08, the Lady Indians added three more scores; a Weeter deuce (assist Lauren Johnson), a free-throw by Hanna Bracelin, and a free-throw area jumper by Beims. The advantage increased to 25-10 and caused the second DC time-out of the contest at 2:42. After the time-out, DC scored consecutive baskets; one after a SF turnover and one on a left-wing shot by Brittney Wesley (5' 4" junior). St. Francis regained their 15-point lead late in the quarter getting an offensive rebound basket by Weeter and a post score by Bracelin. The Lady Indians led 29-16 after a late basket by VanVleet. Another small run early in the final period sealed the win. St. Francis scored three times; a right-baseline jumper by Weeter (assist Regan Beims), a left-wing shot by Jylian Laten (assist Karly Bandel), and a free-throw by Hanna Bracelin, increasing the lead to 34-16. Two DC free-throws and a turnover-two trimmed the lead a bit before Bracelin scored from the post on an assist by Beims. After an out-of-bounds play lob to DC's Anna Carter (6' 0" freshman), Beims scored on press offense after an assist from Bracelin. The back-and-forth action continued throughout the remainder of the contest. The Lady Devils eventually trimmed the deficit to ten (40-30) with approximately two minutes to go and began fouling to preserve the clock. Though the Lady Indians only made 4 for 8 free-throws in the final two minutes, the Lady Devils also found it difficult to score. St. Francis defeated the Lady Devils 44-32.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Taighe Weeter with 18 points. Other Lady Indians contributing to the scoring were: Hanna Bracelin 8, Reagan Beims 6, Zoe Sundtrom 4, Jylian Laten 4, Emileigh Dinkel 2, and Karly Bandel 2. The Lady Indians made 8 of 15 from the line.
Decatur Community was led by 5' 3" freshman Kennedy Jensen and senior Brittney Wesley with 10 points each. The Lady Devils made 5 of 8 from the stripe.
St. Francis will play Cheylin, in McDonald, on Tuesday, February 14.
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