Scott BresslerFor the first time since the 1986-87 season, the McKendree University Bearcats defeated Washington University’s women’s basketball team. With the game tied at 22 midway through the first half, McKendree went on a 22-7 run to end the half en route to a 76-49 win.
The Bears were unable to score consistently, making just 18 field goals and shooting a miserable 27% from the field and 44% from the free throw line. Junior Jill Brandt led the team with 10 points on 2-8 shooting. Classmate Halsey Ward chipped in nine points in the loss.
“We started out strong. We couldn’t recover at halftime.” stated Head Coach Nancy Fahey.
Friday was the first day that the Lady Bears were without star forward Jaimie McFarlin, but her injury is not an excuse for Friday’s contest.
“It would be a lie to say that we did not miss Jaimie. However, we have a lot of talent on this team, and that includes other people in the post position. Losing Jaimie will not mean losing our ability to pound the ball inside successfully,” said senior captain Sarah Tibesar.
However, since a third of the teams’ field goals came from behind the arc, it is clear that the WU offense became more of a perimeter attack with McFarlin out.
McKendree shot a modest 45% from the floor, but five players, including three off of the bench, scored in double digits.
“We weren’t successfully playing our defensive system, which gave McKendree the opportunity to get more points off dribble drives than our defense would normally allow,” said Tibesar.
The Bears closed the lead to 13 points with 13:27 left in the game, but McKendree outscored the Red and Green for the remainder of the game to win by 27.
Fahey admitted after Friday’s game that the loss of McFarlin altered the offense.
“We’re looking at a different approach. We have to do it quickly since we have a game on Tuesday. We need to get our balance back,” she explained.
Part of this adjustment will consist of finding more ways to get more inside shot attempts.
Wash. U. returns to St. Louis on Tuesday for a 5:30 game against Fontbonne University. The game before a five game home stand, Red Alert is urging students to meet at the clock tower at five to cross Wydown and attend the game.
As always, students wearing Red Alert T-shirts will receive pizza, and the half time show will include a contest between Wash. U. and Fontbonne students.