The All State

Whitney Hanley

Named 17th among OVC scoring leaders and second-team all OVC in the 2010-11 season

Nicole Olszewski

Started 26 games and finished third on team in scoring in the 2010-11 season

Meghan Bussabarger

Played in all 33 games, and ranked third in rebounding during 2010-11 season

» By MARLON SCOTT – mscott@my.apsu.edu

The Lady Govs used to be beasts.

For three years straight they earned a spot in the OVC Tournament. For two of those years, they terrorized the rest of the OVC teams in the tournament, earning back-to-back tournament titles.

By the time tournament time came last season, the other coaches and players lost sleep and broke out in cold sweats, not willing to whisper the words “Lady Govs,” hoping by not saying their name, they could somehow avoid them in the tournament.

However, the reign of terror ended in the semifinals of the OVC Tournament last season.

For the first time in three years, the Lady Govs lost a game in the tournament. The rest of the OVC breathed a sigh of relief and are looking forward to a terror-free tournament this season.

The Lady Govs’ goal is to remind the other teams of their beast status.

In her sixth season as the Lady Govs head coach, Carrie Daniels has a squad balanced with experience and new talent.

“We have a lot of players that have been through the trenches with this team,” Daniels said. “A lot of our returners have been a part of two championship teams. They have a little bit of a bitter taste in their mouths, getting beat in the semifinals.”

The Lady Govs will look to fill two crucial positions left by graduating seniors Brooke Faulkner and Dalila Thomas. Faulkner was the team’s most experienced point guard. She averaged 7.6 points per game, made 29 steals and was a scoring threat from long range.

Thomas was the team’s leading shot blocker. She averaged 7.2 points per game.

“I believe every year you determine what you’re losing and then go out and replace those positions. You can’t replace particular players, but you do have to replace the positions,” Daniels said. “We went out and recruited five newcomers this offseason and, while we are never going to replace the players we lost, I believe we’ve got some great women who will come in and make up for the scoring we lost.”

The Lady Govs filled their needs with four freshmen and a junior college transfer this season. Three of the freshmen are guards who will compete to fill Faulkner’s minutes as point guard: Shira Buley, Kristen Steinback and Shelby Olszewski.

They will also compete with the more experienced Leslie Martinez, a junior transfer from Collin County Community College.

Rounding out the new members is 6-foot freshman forward Somalia McKenney.

“I think from day one, the newcomers have come in and the returners have taken them by the hand and tried to show them the ropes and tell them the things they need to know,” Daniels said. “The chemistry is so important off the court, on the court. It is something that can really help a team be successful.”

The Lady Govs will play a challenging non-conference schedule that includes Vanderbilt, Ball State, Belmont, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Florida A&M.

“We definitely have to stay healthy and just continue to improve each and every day,” Daniels said. “That is the one thing we have stressed. We want to see that improvement every day. We don’t want to digress and
go backwards.” TAS

Senior guard Whitney Hanley faces off against a defender in the Dunn Center.

After only one exhibition game, the Lady Govs basketball team dove head first into the regular season with a home opener against the Southern Illinois Salukis. The two teams have only played 3 times before, with the Salukis up 2-1 in the series.

With a career high 28 points, senior guard Whitney Hanley showed one exhibition game was all she needed to get ready for the regular season. She led her team to a 76-70 victory.

Hanley was one of five Lady Govs to finish in double figures. Senior forward Jasmine Rayner almost earned a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Nicole Olszewski scored 12 points, junior forward Meghan Bussabarger scored 11 points and junior guard Leslie Martinez added 10.

The two teams were evenly matched for the majority of the game. After being tied at 34 at halftime, the Lady Govs seemed to take control in the second half. Producing turnovers and outrebounding the Salukis helped them establish a 11-point lead with four minutes remaining. However, Southern Illinois’ Teri Oliver brought her team back in the game.

Oliver made three, 3-pointers in a row to tie the game at 67 with 2:27 left in the game. Oliver finished leading all scorers with 32 points.

The Lady Govs returning starters made clutch plays to get the win. Olszewski made a steal and then an assist to Whitney who made a Layup to take a 69-67 lead. After the ensuing Saluki missed field goal, Rayner grabbed one of two clutch rebounds in the games final two minutes to stop any Saluki second chance baskets.

Also crashing the boards when it counted was Bussabarger. Both she and Rayner got to the free throw line after battling in the paint and made 2-of-4 free throws in the last 90 seconds.

The rest was all Hanley. Oliver made one more 3-pointer to keep her team in the game, but Hanley scored the last five points, three from the free throw line, to get the win.

“We are thrilled to get the victory and starting off the season 1-0,” said head coach Carrie Daniels. “We gave up some leads, I think we had a 9-point lead in the first half and a 10-point lead in the second. It’s not ideal ever to have those types of leads and let a team come back on you. But I am pleased with the team to be able to, after giving up those leads, to come back and be able to get the win.”

By MARLON SCOTT | Senior Staff Writer

The determined defensive stand, lucky bounce, extra dive, miraculous call or clutch shot in the last minutes of the game did not propel the Lady Govs pass the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles into the finals at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium Saturday, March 3.

Even though fans of the Lady Govs still had hope when the team trailed the Golden Eagles, 56-51, with only 1 minute and 20 seconds remaining in the game, a third straight Lady Govs come from behind win did not happen.

Instead, it was the top-seeded Golden Eagles who made the clutch shots and plays to win the game, 65-56, and advance to the OVC Women’s Basketball Championship Finals.

“They made plays,” said head coach Carrie Daniels. “It’s tough because I am extremely proud of this basketball team. At the same time, when you’re to this point, it comes down to making plays and making stops. We didn’t do enough of that to survive and advance.”

The Lady Govs struggled offensively throughout the game. They made 36 percent (22-61) of their field goals, including just 4-16 from 3-point range.

The solid free throw shooting that sealed the wins in the first two games of the OVC tournament also vanished. They shot 25 percent (4-16) from the charity stripe.

Senior guard Brooke Faulkner and junior center Jasmine Rayner who led the team with double-digit points in the previous two games were held to 7 and 9 points respectively.

Freshman guard Nicole Olszewski led the team with 14 points. Senior guard Whitney Hanley scored 12.

“We didn’t hit our shots tonight and I played a horrible game. I’m beating myself up about that right now,” Faulkner said.

The Golden Eagles actually did not shoot better than the Lady Govs from the field. They made just 34 percent (17-50) of their field goals. However, they made clutch shots from 3-point range and the free throw line. They made 9-21 (43 percent), 3-pointers and shot 22-27 (82 percent), from the free throw line.

The Golden Eagles took an early lead in the game and had an answer for every run the Lady Govs made. The answer was usually a 3-pointer by Golden Eagle junior guard Rachel Glidden. Glidden made six of her team’s nine 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 20 points.

The Lady Govs also did not have an answer for Golden Eagle junior point guard Tacarra Hayes. Hayes scored a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. She also made 12-13 from the free throw line and led the team with 7 assists.

The Lady Govs led in the game only once. They made an 11-5 run in the beginning of the second half to take a 36-35 lead with 14:12 left in the game.
The Golden Eagles countered with a 7-0 run and did not relinquish the lead.

“We are not going to hang our heads,” Daniels said. “I feel for the four seniors. That is what’s most disappointing. The effort and the years they have given, it is the end. The last two years they have gone out on top and that is all they have known. At the same time, the other players who are returning, it’s time for them to go to work.”

“Like coach Daniels said, ever since I’ve been here, we have won. I’m not used to this. This is the worst feeling in the world. We didn’t have our best night. To go out like this, it’s a disappointment. We came this far and I think next year we plan on going even further and getting the championship back.”

LADY GOVS VS. GOLDEN EAGLES LIVE UPDATES

Final- Lady Govs lose to Golden Eagles, 65-56

Update-0:36 second half
Lady Govs forced to foul, but Golden Eagles making free throws. Lady Govs trail 61-53.

Update-2:00 second half
Olzewski makes a 3-pointer cut Golden Eagle Lead to seven, 56-49

Update-5:09 second half
Gladden hits her sixth, 3-pointer of the game to expand the Golden Eagles lead, 53-45.

Update-7:46 second half
Golden Eagles staying ahead of the Lady Govs. They lead 46-41.

Update-11:43 second half
Thomas gave the Lady Govs a one-point lead from the free throw line, but Golden Eagles responded with a 3-pointer. They lead 40-36.

Update-14:45 second half
Hanley makes a 3-pointer to bring the Lady Govs within one of the Golden Eagles, 35-34

Update-15:41 second half
Lady Govs trying to close the gap, still trail 35-31.

Update-Halftime
Tennessee Tech leads 30-25

Update-2:49 first half
Olzewski makes a short jumper off the dribble to bring the Lady Govs within three, 26-23

Update-7:15 first half
Golden Eagles on 10-4 run, leading 21-14

Update-9:22 first half
Gladden makes her fifth 3-pointer to extend Golden Eagles lead, 19-12

Update-11:54 first half
Dalila Thomas scores her first points in the post. Brings Lady Govs within three of Golden Eagles, 11-8

Update-14:09 first half
Jasmine Rayner makes two free throws. Tech leads 8-4

Update-15:22 first half
Tech’s Rachel Glidden only one to score in first four minutes. She has made two from 3-point range to give Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead.

By MARLON SCOTT | Senior Staff Writer

The Lady Govs played the Eastern Illinois Panthers to start off the quarterfinals of the 2011 OVC Womens Basketball Championship Tournament in Nashville at noon Thursday, March 3. The Panthers defeated the Lady Govs twice in the regular season. However, the Lady Govs defeated the Panthers in the finals of the tournament the last two years to earn their titles. The Lady Govs made it three eliminations in a row. They defeated the Panthers 78-72, and advanced to the OVC Tournament semifinals.

The Lady Govs will play top seeded Tennessee Tech at noon Friday, March 4.

For the second game in a row, the Lady Govs lost a solid lead in the second half and had to battle from behind in the last few minutes to get the win.

Seniors Brooke Faulkner and Dalila Thomas along with junior center Jasmine Rayner had a big day on the court against the Panthers.

“Today, I think there was a little fire in our eyes,” Faulkner said. “We always play well in tournament time and there was no difference tonight. I told my teammates with four minutes to go that we are not going to lose this game.”

Faulkner was one of seven different Lady Govs to score in the game. She scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Rayner led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Thomas scored 14, rebounded 8 and blocked 4 shots.

Panther’s sophomore guard Ta’Kenya Nixon led all scorers with 27 points. Nixon led the Panther’s second half charge that eliminated a Lady Gov 6-point lead at halftime. With less than 11 minutes left in the game, the Panthers had taken control and led by eight points, 61-53.

“In that second half, EIU came out, they made big plays. Later in the half it was a tug of war. It went back and forth,” said head coach Carrie Daniels. “At the four-minute mark when some crucial things happened with the fouls, the shot that Brooke [Faulkner] made, the momentum kind of shifted in our favor. At that point I could see in our player’s eyes that we were not going to give this up.”

Senior guard Darcie Warner and sophomore forward Meghan Bussabarger came off the bench and sparked a Lady Gov run that had the two teams tied at 68 with four minutes remaining in the game.

During the run, the Lady Govs made seven-straight rebounds on both ends which kept the Panthers off the score board and gave the Lady Govs the opportunity to capitalize on second chance points.

The two teams battled to another tie at 70. Warner made a short jump shot off an assist from Rayner to give the Lady Govs the 72-70 lead with less than two minutes left in the game.

On the ensuing Panther’s possession Thomas blocked the Panther’s shot and the Lady Govs recovered the ball. As the clock wound down to one minute Rayner missed a short jumper, but Thomas made the clutch rebound to ensure another Lady Govs offensive possession.

Faulkner took advantage of the possession and made a short jump shot to expand the Lady Govs lead. Rayner and Thomas continued to dominate on the boards and the Lady Govs sealed another game from the free throw line.

“I have yet to know what it feels like to lose in the conference tournament, and I am definitely not trying to find out my senior year,” Thomas said.

LADY GOVS VS. PANTHERS LIVE UPDATES

Final- Lady Govs defeat Panthers 78-72

Update-0:23 second half

Rayner at the free throw line, hits both, Lady Govs lead 76-70

Update- 0:42 second half

Faulkner hits the jumper to give Lady Govs 74-70 lead.

Update-2:29 second half

Lady Govs take a 70-68 lead

Update-3:59 second half

Lady Govs behind 68-66, Meghan Bussabarger going to free throw line with a chance to tie. She converts, game tied at 68

Update-7:37 second half

Panthers can’t pull away from Lady Govs. Lady Making a move, on 5-1 run, down by four, 62-58

Update-11:45 second half

Lady Govs lingering, but can’t close the gap. Panthers lead 55-51.

Update-13:55 second half

Panthers continue to surge, take 51-49 lead

Update-18:28 second half

Panthers come out with a 6-0 run. Behind Lady Govs 42-40.

Halftime

Lady Govs finish first half with 14-5 run to take a 42-34 halftime lead.

Update-1:53 first half

Faukner hits another 3-pointer to initiate a Lady Govs 10-5 run. They lead 38-34.

Update-7:30 first half

Panthers holding lead in first half physical battle, 28-24

Update-12:02 first half

Rayner makes 1-of-2 at free throw line, Lady Govs lead 17-16

Update-15:21 first half

Lady Govs are hot from 3-point range. Freshman guard Nicole Olzewski makes the fourth for the team in the first five minutes, Lady Govs lead 16-8

Panthers win the tip off, but turn the ball over. Lady Govs answer with a 3-pointer from senior guard Brooke Faulkner.

By MARLON SCOTT | Senior Staff Writer

When Murray State sophomore guard Mariah Robinson made a jump shot from just past the free throw line with less than six minutes left in the game, Murray State players, coaches and fans erupted with cheers.
Robinson’s shot was the end of a run in which the Racers overcame a 16-point Lady Govs’ lead and tied the game at 56.

Lady Govs fans were stunned.

Just minutes before, they had been cheering as the Lady Govs exerted full control over the Racers. After Robinson’s shot those same fans were on the edge of their seats wondering if the Lady Govs were about to give away the game.

The Lady Govs responded to the Racers surge like champions.

It started with junior center Jasmine Rayner. She made two clutch plays in the paint and her team followed suit, sealing the win by making 9-of-12 from the free throw line.

“A lot of veteran players stepped up and made some things happen, and we weren’t going to lose that ball game,” said senior guard Brooke Faulkner.

“The thing that was in my head the whole time was one and done, and we didn’t want our season to end,” Rayner said.

Tied at 56, Robinson missed her next jumper and her team grabbed the offensive rebound. However when the ball swung back to Robinson, Rayner made the steal. On the ensuing Lady Govs possession junior guard Whitney Hanley drove to the basket and finished with a layup that gave her team the 58-56 lead.

After another Racer turnover, Rayner powered through several defenders to score in the paint while being fouled. She converted the 3-point play from the free throw line and the Lady Govs led 61-56 with 3:57 left in the game.

Rayner came up big again when the score was later tied at 61. After Hanley missed a short jumper, Rayner battled under the basket, got the offensive rebound, put it back up, made the shot and was fouled.

She did not convert the 3-point play that time. However, her teammates made the next six free throws to take a 69-63 lead with less than a minute remaining in the game. The Racers scored only one more point while continuing to put the Lady Govs on the free throw line where they sealed the win.

“We definitely have to tip our hats to Murray State,” said head coach Carrie Daniels. “We knew they weren’t going to give up. They were going to come at us for 40 minutes and that is exactly what they did. I have to be extremely proud and excited for this team to get this win and pull it out.”

The Lady Govs shot 50 percent (27-54) from the field while holding the Racers to 36 percent (22-61) shooting. They also shot 63 percent (10-16) from the free throw line.

Robinson led all scorers with 28 points.

Rayner was one of four Lady Govs to score double-digit points. She scored 15 and pulled down 7 rebounds. Faulkner led the team with 20 points. Hanley and senior forward Dalila Thomas scored 12.

This was the Lady Govs seventh straight win in the OVC Championship Tournament. It was also their sixth straight win over the Racers, including three this season.

They advance to play Eastern Illinois in the quarterfinals at noon, Thursday, March 3.

LADY GOVS VS. RACERS LIVE UPDATES

Update: Final 71-64
The Lady Govs make 9-of 12 free throws to put the game away after the Racers come back and tie the game.

Update:
Rayner battles in the paint, scores and is fouled. She will go to the free throw line to try and convert the 3-point play and expand the Lady Govs lead, 60-56 with less than four minutes left in the game.

Update:
The Lady Govs offense stalls while the Racers put together a 16-2 run. The game is close, 56-54 with 6:04 remaining.

Update:
The Lady Govs lead the Racers at halftime, 43-28.
They made 6-of-9 from 3-point range and are shot 58 percent (18-31) from the field.
Faulkner 13
Rayner 10
Hanley 8

Update:
Senior guard Brooke Faulkner scores five in a Lady Govs 19-3 run. Racers hit 3-pointers to stay in the game. Junior guard Whitney Hanley and Faulkner are hot from 3-point range.
Lady Govs establish biggest lead of the game so far, up 29-18. Racers take a timeout with 7:28 remaining in first half.

Update
The Racers scored the first four points. Junior center Jasmine Rayner scores the first points for the Lady Govs in the paint and is fouled. She fails to convert the 3-point play.
Racers lead 5-2, at 16:40 in first half.

By MARLON SCOTT | Senior Staff Writer

It was senior night in the Dunn Center Saturday, Feb. 26, and the four seniors on the Lady Govs roster helped their team dominate the Southeast Missouri Redhawks in their last game of the season, 71-51.

The win finished the Lady Govs’ regular season at 13-17, 12-6 OVC. They won six of their last seven games. This is also the third straight season with at least 10 OVC wins. The Lady Govs earned the fifth seed in the 2011 OVC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.

Seniors Brooke Faulkner, Salem Richardson, Dalila Thomas and Darcie Warner all started the game against the Redhawks and played major minutes.

Faulkner scored 11 points. Richardson scored 10 to go with four assists and two steals. Thomas filled out the stat sheet with eight points, three rebounds and three blocks.

Sophomore forward Meghan Bussabarger led the team with 14 points off the bench. Junior center Jasmine Rayner scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The Lady Govs won the battle across the board against the Redhawks. They outscored them in the paint 22-16 and generated 18 points from 21 turnovers. They also out-rebounded the Redhawks 36-31, which led to more second chance points, 15-9.

The Lady Govs held the lead for the final 36 minutes of the game. Redhawk junior guard Bianca Beck scored the first basket of the game.

After Rayner countered with a layup in the paint for the Lady Govs, sophomore guard Katie Norman gave the Redhawks the last lead they would have, 4-2, 3 minutes and 32 seconds into the game.

Lady Gov freshman guard Nicole Olszewski drove to the basket and finished with a one-handed scoop as she fell after she was fouled with 3:27 left in the first half. She converted the 3-point play and capped off a 10-0 run by the Lady Govs for a 31-18 lead.

They continued the run, outscoring the Redhawks 18-8 in the last three minutes of the half to take a 39-26 halftime lead.

The Redhawks never reached 11 points in the second half. Thomas gave the Lady Govs their biggest lead of the game, 22 points, on a put back with two minutes left in the game.

“Being a senior, it’s very important we show leadership on and off the court, encouraging our ladies to bring it in practice as well as game time,” Thomas said. “Now is the best time as any to be ready to play, just show our veteran aspects of the game and just come out ready and know this is our last time.”

The Lady Govs will begin their quest to a third straight OVC Tournament title Wednesday, March 2, at noon at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium against conference rival Murray State. TAS