Sat Feb 11 2012
The Kentucky State women’s basketball team knew what to do – keep Bellarmine away from the 3-point line.
And for the most part the Thorobrettes did just that, but in a 3½-minute span during the second half the Knights hit three 3-pointers, put some distance between themselves and KSU, and went on to a 76-62 victory Tuesday at the Exum Center.
“We wanted them to drive and not shoot the three,” KSU coach Stephanie Evans said. “They shot 612 threes last season. We wanted to keep them away from the line, and I thought our defense did very well in the first half.”
Bellarmine (1-0) made two 3-pointers in the first half and five in the second 20 minutes.
“We gave up five in the second half,” Evans said, “and three of them came in the opening minutes where they pulled away a little bit.”
The Thorobrettes, playing their season opener, trailed by eight points at halftime at 33-25, but they hit some 3-pointers of their own early in the second half, including back-to-back treys by Jessica Vaughn and Latrice Watkins that cut Bellarmine’s lead to two, 37-35.
Kylie Brady’s 3 put the Knights up 40-35 and ignited a 17-2 run for Bellarmine that included four of their five second-half 3s.
KSU cut the lead to 10, 55-45, when Vaughn hit another 3 and two free throws with seven minutes remaining, but the Thorobrettes got no closer.
Kentucky State held Bellarmine to 38 percent shooting while hitting 35 percent of its shots, but the Thorobrettes hurt themselves at the foul line, going just 11-for-25 on free throws.
“Free throws and rebounding were big factors,” Evans said. “We were 11-for-25 on free throws, and we were outrebounded by 20. They had 40 defensive rebounds, and that didn’t give us many second looks at all.”
Bellarmine had more defensive boards than KSU had total rebounds as the Knights held a 56-36 advantage on the boards.
And while the Knights struggled from the field, they shot 83 percent from the foul line, hitting 83.3 percent (25-for-30) of their free throws.
Vaughn led KSU with 18 points, and Shana McCombs finished with 17. Stephanie Harper had a team-high seven rebounds, and Kiarra Morgan had six. Watkins handed out five assists.
Bellarmine’s Brittany Edelen had a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Kentucky State plays its next game Saturday at Northern Kentucky, then returns home Tuesday for a conference doubleheader with the men’s team against Claflin.
“This is definitely one to put behind us,” Evans said. “We have to shoot better on free throws and we have to do a better job rebounding. Those are things we can fix.
“We have to show improvement,” she added. “This is a lot like the preseason. Against Morehead it was an eight-point game at the half, but we came out in the second half and didn’t play well. Then against IUPUI two days later we come away with a win. We have to make sure we respond.”
BELLARMINE (76) – Brittany Edelen 22, Allison Matheis 17, Kylie Brady 4, Jalissa Chatlos 9, Melissa Fitz 9, Betsy Goodin 5, Destiny Mattingly 5, Kirsten Delph 2, Allison Osen 3.
KENTUCKY STATE (62) – Kiarra Morgan 6, Latrice Watkins 9, Shana McCombs 17, Jessica Vaughn 18, Stephanie Harper 7, Kiera Nelson 1, Joanna Powell 4.
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