NIU is 7-8 (1-3). Miami is 9-5 ( 2-2). NIU won at Toledo by 1, lost at Ohio by 16, Lost by 2 at Akron, and lost at home to Western Michigan by 4…We have lost 4 of the last 5 games at Northern. Head Coach Lisa Carlson is in her 10th year at NIU and 20th overall and is 318 and 301 on her career. This year she is coaching her daughter Lexi who is a starting freshman guard.
They have balanced scoring with 4 girls in double digits:
6-3 GS Brooke Stonebreaker 11.6ppg and 7.1rpg
5-8 JR Alicia Doyle 11.5ppg
5-6 GS Chelby Koker 11.4ppg 4 apg 85%ft
6-0 RS Soph Brook Blumenfeld 10.1ppg
5-8 FR Lexi Carlson 7.7ppg 41% 3’s
Stonebreaker is from Versailles Ohio ( in the Midwest Athletic Conference). Her Mom is the former Jackie Raterman, who was BG’s all time leading scorer when she graduated. She went back home and coached at Versailles and has won several state championships, including when Brooke played there. She also coached her sister Justine Raterman in high school to another state championship. Justine is Dayton’s alltime leading scorer and was and assistant coach to Megan Duffy in her two seasons at Miami, then went to Marquette with Coach Duffy. I think she would be an interesting head coaching candidate the next time either Dayton or Miami come open.
Off to a good start thanks to Enjulina who has 10 in the first quarter. 18-11 Miami. On a bad note, Amber Tretter once again has 2 fouls in the first 5 minutes and will be sitting out most of the rest of the half. Emily Bratton is out with illness.
37-23 Miami at the half, thanks to Gonzalez who has 20 points and 7 rebounds. 8 out of 12 shooting. Tretter sat out the last 15 minutes of the first half with 2 fouls. Camille Jackson came and touched the ball 3 times and drove to her right for a strong layup each time for 6 points. Tretter , Jackson, and Singer all have 2 fouls.
Meanwhile NIU is missing a lot of open shots and is hitting only 30% and has only 1 three. Doyle and Stonebreaker lead NIU with 6 apiece.
55-40 at the end of three. Gonzalez only got one shot in the third quarter as they faceguarded her with one girl and doubled on her if she got the ball. So she has 23. Tretter picked up her third foul on the first play of the third, but Coach Box decided to let her play and she still has 3. So does Tamar. Tretter, Singer, and Chandler all have 8 points.
Well, we had only 12 turnovers to NIU’s 23. But I hear you. As Coach Box says, we still have so many things that we can do better. He also says he thinks we can get good enough to win the league. So this group is still a work in progress. Up to 10-5 ( 3-2). A lot of games vs top teams coming up in the next few weeks.