Feb. 10, 2007

TRI-STATE OUTGUNS BULLDOGS, 89-77
Olech’s double-double not enough for Adrian

By Ed Patino
Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich. – The run-and-gun was a lot of fun for the Tri-State University women’s basketball team.

Kelly Rogers keyed a second half surge and led the Thunder to an 89-77 victory over the Adrian College Bulldogs, spoiling Alumnae Day at the Merillat Center.

Adrian (8-14, 3-12 MIAA) was dealt its fifth straight loss and 10th setback in its last 12 games. Tri-State (5-18, 3-12 MIAA) snapped a six-game losing streak and continued its recent mastery of the Bulldogs. The Thunder have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams and scored their third straight victory at the Merillat Center. The Bulldogs’ last home win against Tri-State was Dec. 16, 2003.

The Bulldogs made a big run at the end of the first half to grab a three point lead, but Tri-State answered with a 14-3 run midway through the second half and never looked back.

Tri-State’s pressure combined with its 3-point shooting gave the Bulldogs trouble early in the first half. A pair of free throws and a layup by Claire Will gave the Thunder a 23-14 lead just under seven minutes in. Adrian twice pulled to within four, but a 3-pointer by Sarah Howe pushed Tri-State’s lead back to eight midway through the half.

The Bulldogs solved the press and made a 12-1 run over the next four minutes. Jennifer Perrin sank a pair of layups, giving Adrian its first lead at 34-33 with 5:14 remaining, and Jenny Carlson capped the run by hitting two at the line.

A missile by Kristen Julian tied the game seconds later, but Adrian managed to build a four-point lead thanks to free throw from Carlson and Kim Olech. Will tied the game with a 3-pointer with two minutes left in the half, but Nichole Roose answered with a missile of her own, giving the Bulldogs a 46-43 lead at the break.

The Bulldogs shot 54 percent in the first half and was 15-for-18 at the charity stripe.

The court tilted in Tri-State’s favor in the second half. After the teams exchanged baskets and the lead, the Thunder broke a 53-53 tie with consecutive triples from Rogers and Rachel Grove and took the lead for good.

Roose scored a layup with 11:48 remaining, bringing Adrian to within 63-60, but the Thunder took control with their second half run.

Howe’s jumper kicked off the surge, then another basket from Will gave Tri-State a 77-63 lead with just under six minutes left. A missile by Roose and layup from Elysia Norris pulled Adrian to within nine two minutes later, but Rogers stopped the Bulldogs’ comeback with a 3-pointer. Rogers hit another 3-pointer with two minutes remaining, giving Tri-State its biggest lead of the day at 87-70.

Adrian’s shooting dropped to 34 percent in the second half, including 3-for-11 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, the Thunder hit 64 percent from the floor and was 7-for-12 from 3-point land in the second half.

The loss spoiled a strong game from Olech, who recorded a double-double. The freshman scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Four other Bulldogs scored in double figures, with Stamps leading the way with 12 points. Roose had 11 points, while Perrin and Carlson each added 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Five players also hit double figures for the Thunder. Rogers scored 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, while Howe finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Grove added 17 points and Will had 11 points. Julian had 11 points and five assists for Tri-State.

The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season Feb. 17 when they host Albion College. Adrian stunned the Britons with a 67-62 victory at Kresge Gymnasium in their first meeting Dec. 1.