2008 Woodie Awards
Penguins face Butler in pivotal league contest
Keith Langford, Reporter
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sports
Coming off a tough loss at home to Cleveland State on Saturday, the Lady Penguins look forward to the stretch run as they square off against the Butler Bulldogs on Thursday.
The women's basketball team lost the first matchup at Butler 63-48. The team eagerly awaits another crack at the Bulldogs to push their record back up to the .500 mark.
The urgency for a late season surge heading into the tournament showed its force as the Lady Penguins showed great intensity at Monday's practice. They are trying to keep a short track mindset by not thinking about mistakes they have made in previous games.
"We need to quickly forget about the Cleveland State game," senior guard Lauren Branson said. Branson also added, "We need to forget were we are going to finish and just play Penguin basketball".
Senior guard Kira Mowen added, "We have to practice hard this week and play like we know how to play on Thursday and Saturday".
Butler comes into the contest at 17-9 overall and 7-8 in Horizon League play. Butler won their last game against Detroit so they are coming into the Beeghly Center feeling confident.
The first game between Butler and YSU, the Lady Penguins struggled in the first half to the tune of only 17 points scored. The team picked up the scoring in the second half but it was not enough to knock off a game Butler squad. Butler shot 36 percent from the field in the first game. The team's defense effort was there in the previous game at Butler but the offense has to come around to get the win on Thursday.
Although the Penguins are enjoying one of their most successful recent seasons, Coach Tisha Hill thinks her team lacks consistency.
She also said she feels the team needs to buckle down on the defensive end for these last two regular season games.
Hill expressed excitement however when discussing senior week. She expressed her feelings she had when she went to Cincinnati to recruit senior guard Lauren Branson and traveling to Findlay, Ohio to recruit senior forward Jessica Schloemp.
Hill said she enjoys the "never say die" that Branson gives you.
Schloemp expressed the importance of the final two regular season games. She said "I think these two games are important to us for seeding in the Horizon tournament."
"It would be huge to get these two wins at home," Schloemp said.
Senior guard Kira Mowen displayed her emotion about senior week as well.
"Basically we can not look at the past. It's senior week. We just have to go out there and play our game," Mowen said.
The Lady Penguins are hungry for two more wins to close out this season. With hard work and playing Penguin basketball our Lady Penguins should be able to close out the regular season on a high note heading into the Horizon League postseason tournament.
The women's basketball team lost the first matchup at Butler 63-48. The team eagerly awaits another crack at the Bulldogs to push their record back up to the .500 mark.
The urgency for a late season surge heading into the tournament showed its force as the Lady Penguins showed great intensity at Monday's practice. They are trying to keep a short track mindset by not thinking about mistakes they have made in previous games.
"We need to quickly forget about the Cleveland State game," senior guard Lauren Branson said. Branson also added, "We need to forget were we are going to finish and just play Penguin basketball".
Senior guard Kira Mowen added, "We have to practice hard this week and play like we know how to play on Thursday and Saturday".
Butler comes into the contest at 17-9 overall and 7-8 in Horizon League play. Butler won their last game against Detroit so they are coming into the Beeghly Center feeling confident.
The first game between Butler and YSU, the Lady Penguins struggled in the first half to the tune of only 17 points scored. The team picked up the scoring in the second half but it was not enough to knock off a game Butler squad. Butler shot 36 percent from the field in the first game. The team's defense effort was there in the previous game at Butler but the offense has to come around to get the win on Thursday.
Although the Penguins are enjoying one of their most successful recent seasons, Coach Tisha Hill thinks her team lacks consistency.
She also said she feels the team needs to buckle down on the defensive end for these last two regular season games.
Hill expressed excitement however when discussing senior week. She expressed her feelings she had when she went to Cincinnati to recruit senior guard Lauren Branson and traveling to Findlay, Ohio to recruit senior forward Jessica Schloemp.
Hill said she enjoys the "never say die" that Branson gives you.
Schloemp expressed the importance of the final two regular season games. She said "I think these two games are important to us for seeding in the Horizon tournament."
"It would be huge to get these two wins at home," Schloemp said.
Senior guard Kira Mowen displayed her emotion about senior week as well.
"Basically we can not look at the past. It's senior week. We just have to go out there and play our game," Mowen said.
The Lady Penguins are hungry for two more wins to close out this season. With hard work and playing Penguin basketball our Lady Penguins should be able to close out the regular season on a high note heading into the Horizon League postseason tournament.
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