Adrian College Women's Basketball Headlines

Nov. 21 , 2006

BULLDOGS SILENCE SIENA HEIGHTS
Roose perfect has Adrian beats cross town rival

By Ed Patino
Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich. – Nichole Roose helped the Adrian College women’s basketball team deliver a stern message.

The junior guard was perfect from the floor and three others scored in double figures as the Bulldogs stormed to a 79-63 victory over the Siena Heights University Saints before a spirited crowd at the Merillat Center in the traditional pre-Thanksgiving meeting of cross-town rivals.

Roose had a perfect shooting night on her way to a team-high 21 points. She finished 6-for-6 from the floor, 4-for-4 from 3-point land and 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Adrian (2-0) never trailed in the game and handed Siena Heights (5-1) its first loss of the season.

The Saints entered the game with powerful senior forward Laura Panozzo, who averaged 20.4 points and 14.6 rebounds per game. Panozzo still scored her points, finishing with 21, but the Bulldogs kept her off the glass, limiting her to four rebounds.For the game, the Bulldogs held a 38-22 edge in rebounding.

Adrian started fast, jumping to a 14-4 lead after Priscilla Yeagley hit a pair of free throws on a Siena Heights bench technical foul. The Saints pulled to within five midway through the half on a 3-pointer by Jennifer Hoffman and a layup by Panozzo, but Adrian regained control with an 18-4 run over the next six minutes.

The Bulldogs constantly got behind the Siena Heights defense for inside baskets during the run. Freshman Liz Hafeli and Anita Stamps combined for 11 points and Yeagley capped the run with a layup, giving the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the night at 41-22 with just over four minutes left in the half.

Siena Heights fought back with a 10-0 run and Panozzo hit 1-of-2 at the line, pulling the Saints to within nine with five seconds left. However, Roose buried a missile at the buzzer, sending Adrian to the break with a 44-32 lead.

Kara Wilcox hit consecutive 3-pointers early in the second half, pulling Siena Heights to with six, but the Saints came no closer. Freshman Kim Olech scored three baskets inside and Stamps hit a 3-pointer, making it 58-44.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 16 when Nichole Roose converted a traditional 3-point play with 6:22 remaining. Siena Heights responded with an 8-0 run, but had its momentum stopped by a carrying violation and another technical foul on the Saints’ bench. Roose sank four straight free throws, giving Adrian a 72-60 lead. The Bulldogs clamped down defensively on the Saints and took advantage of their trips to the line down the stretch, clinching the victory.

The Saints were held to 37 percent shooting in the game and were 57 percent at the line. Meanwhile, Adrian hit 75 percent from the charity stripe.

Along with the 21 points from Roose, the Adrian freshman continued to impress. Olech recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Stamps added 14 points and seven rebounds, while senior Yeagley had 10 points. Hafeli finished with seven points and senior Corri Helldobler had five rebounds and three assists for the Bulldogs.

Desiree Spivey was the only other Saint to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points. Wilcox added nine points and Onicko Biggs had seven points and six rebounds for Siena Heights.

The Bulldogs will take off for the Thanksgiving weekend and return to action Nov. 29 when they host Ohio Northern. The tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Merillat Center. The Polar Bears defeated Adrian 79-67 in last year’s meeting in the Buckeye State.