Women's b-ball drubbed by Allegheny

After an energizing win against conference opponent Denison University (1-21) this past Saturday, the Yeowomen went to Allegheny College on Wednesday and got caught staring into the headlights of the Gator's full court press.

Twenty-nine turnovers in the first half against Alleghany had a lot to do with the game's final score of 79-39. As the team went to the lockerroom for half-time, they were already facing a 36 point hole.

"They were full-court pressing...and we panicked," said Coach Ann Gilbert. "They were so intense and aggresive it took us right out of our game."

Oberlin came back in the second half with better work against the press and 28 more points - a total that was still eight points short of Allegheny's scoring for the first half.

Needless to say, it was a drubbing.

Disappointing, too, after such an exciting game against Denison. The Yeowomen have only won at home twice this year out of 11 games, and it felt good to be able to sweep Denison under the rug.

Denison had also previously beaten the Yeowomen in double overtime at Denison, in a game that the players and Gilbert believe the team should have won. So there was definitely a sense of sweet revenge as the time ticked out on the Big Red.

Denison was a great match-up for Oberlin. Both teams are dominated by first-years and have about the same numbers. Both teams also have the same basic problems - youth and inexperience.

Oberlin has a leg up on Denison in terms of talent, though. The Big Red couldn't touch first-year Monica Bush in the post, and was always a step or two behind the Yeowomen.

Bush and sophomore Nicole James were the story of the game, combining for most of the team's points and rebounds in the first and second half.

"Nicole James has really been the strength of our program these last few games," said Gilbert.

First-year Ikeya Hillman was also a factor in the game, though she was not the dominating presence she has been in the past.

The Yeowomen are a win or a coin toss away from going to their first NCAC playoff game in six years, which incidentally was the last time Gilbert was with the team as a player.

Right now, Oberlin is tied with Denison at one conference win each. The top eight teams in the conference go to the playoffs. If Oberlin wins against Earlham College (6-16) this Saturday, they receive an automatic bid. If Oberlin loses, then a coin toss will decide who is admitted to the tournament and who stays home.

Gilbert and her players are positive about their chances at Earlham, who in wins and losses is just a notch above Oberlin. In their last meeting, over Winter Term, Earlham came out on top 56-40.

If the Yeowomen can keep their cool, and figure out a way to break a full-court press at the start of the first and second half, they should have a good chance of showing up Earlham on their own court.

The key is if Oberlin comes out to play from the start. And if everyone comes ready to play.

"If we could get all of these kids to play well on the same night, we might actually scare some people," said Gilbert.

Up and in: First-year Nicole James flies with ease to score against Denison (photo by Zach Fried)