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Defensive help plays key role in KSU's conference victory over Claflin, 65-61
November 25, 2009
As Lashaundra Barron went, so did Claflin’s women’s basketball team.
Kentucky State stopped Barron in the second half and came away with its first win of the season, beating Claflin 65-61 Tuesday at the Exum Center.
Barron, a 5-10 center, had 14 points and nine rebounds at halftime as Claflin (0-3) trailed KSU by just two points, 31-29.
Barron had just four points and two rebounds the rest of the way.
“We talked at halftime about getting weak side help,” KSU coach Stephanie Evans said. “When we were able to get help in the first half we did a good job on her, so what we talked about at halftime was getting the opposite side person over to help.”
The Thorobrettes had talked about that before the game, too, but they did a better job in the second half.
“I think it was consistency,” KSU’s Stephanie Harper said, “but also we had more intensity going into the second half.”
K-State showed that intensity early in the second half. With their lead still two points, 37-35, the Thorobrettes went on a 14-1 run to go ahead 51-36 with 12:30 left in the game.
Six of the seven baskets during the run were layups as KSU used its defense to set up its offense, forcing Claflin into turnovers and releasing a player downcourt for the easy bucket.
“We talked about that at halftime,” Evans said. “We knew we had to push the ball. They had a couple of girls that were a little large and might have trouble running the floor with us.
“We were a little hesitant in the first half, and we weren’t rebounding,” she added. “You have to rebound to push the ball and make the young ladies run the floor.”
Harper led KSU with a double-double, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Shana McCombs was in double figures for the Thorobrettes with 15 points, and Jessica Vaughn finished with 11.
The game was KSU’s first conference matchup, putting K-State at 1-0 in the SIAC and 1-2 overall.
The Thorobrettes opened their season with a 76-62 loss to Bellarmine a week ago, then lost 66-62 Saturday at Northern Kentucky.
“Losing your first game means you’re not going to go undefeated,” Evans said. “That’s all. We played two quality games that helped us get ready for conference play, particularly Northern Kentucky. We lost the game but we played well, well enough to give us something to build on coming into tonight’s contest.
“That was a very, very good game for us,” she added. “That’s a game you go into and use as a measuring stick to see where your program is. Northern Kentucky was preseason No. 15 in the country, and our girls competed. They played to the level of competition.”
Claflin made a run at KSU midway through the second half, scoring 13 straight points and pulling within two of the Thorobrettes.
The Lady Panthers had the lead down to one point, 53-52, but could never pull even or take the lead.
The Thorobrettes scored six consecutive points for a 59-52 lead, and Claflin never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
KSU’s next game is Saturday afternoon at Benedict. The Thorobrettes don’t play at home again until Jan. 9.
CLAFLIN (61) – Ashley Sorrell-Gibson 18, Amelia Jones 6, Natalie Davis 8, Donisha Albert 4, Lashaundra Barron 18, Lesha Brigham 7.
KENTUCKY STATE (65) – Kiarra Morgan 5, Latrice Watkins 4, Shana McCombs 15, Jessica Vaughn 11, Stephanie Harper 21, Kiera Nelson 3, Christine
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