Charger women gear up for four games on the home court
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
The women's basketball team will continue to take things a day at a time after sustaining their first losses of the season during Christmas break.
Now 13-3, the team suffered their first loses to Northwood University, St. Mary's College and Michigan Technological University.
Head coach Claudette Charney said the team didn't take their strong defense seriously enough until they were negatively affected is past weekend at Michigan Tech.
"We didn't play our typical game defensively on Saturday," Charney said. "It opened some people's eyes."
Charney said Michigan Tech did a good job defending junior and two-time GLIAC Player of the Week Katie Cezat, which was something the Chargers did not make adjustments for.
Sophomore guard Brooke Knight said the game against Michigan Tech was big because it pitted the two first-ranked teams in the North and South GLIAC divisions.
"We weren't as aggressive as we need to be and as we usually are," Knight said.
Knight said Sunday's game against Northern Michigan was just the opposite.
"We knew we had to get it done defensively," she said. "We really focused on that on Sunday. We had some people step up and have really good games."
Knight said sophomore Janay Miller and Cezat both played well Sunday.
"There was nothing that was going to stop her," Knight said of Cezat. "She tore it up."
Team captain Julie Slot, a senior, said after Saturday's game the team focused on a strong defense for Sunday.
"We got a little angry and that kind of inspired us," she said. "We really stepped up our defense."
During break the team played six games, only one of which was at home - against Lake Superior State University.
"We didn't get lucky but we were able to pull off a win," Knight said. "It was just one of those games."
The Chargers won by only 9 points.
Charney said the team needs to work on free throws in order to avoid close wins like that against Lake Superior State.
"We allowed them to stay in the game because of missed free throws," she said. "We have to be able to make free throws when it's tight. That's an individual thing. You make those and the whole game completely changes."
The team will take on Mercyhurst College tonight at 6 p.m. and No. 2 ranked Gannon University on Saturday at 1 p.m., both at home.
Knight said the team lost to Gannon three times last year and will face them twice this year. Gannon is currently 5-3 in GLIAC play; Hillsdale is 6-2.
Charney said the team can only continue to win if they focus on more than their past wins.
"When you win the way we've won, your expectations rise," she said. "We have to slow down and focus on our game. It is the process and not the end result."
The key to continuing to win, Charney said, is not to focus on winning the GLIAC championship, but winning the current game and moving on from there.
Now 13-3, the team suffered their first loses to Northwood University, St. Mary's College and Michigan Technological University.
Head coach Claudette Charney said the team didn't take their strong defense seriously enough until they were negatively affected is past weekend at Michigan Tech.
"We didn't play our typical game defensively on Saturday," Charney said. "It opened some people's eyes."
Charney said Michigan Tech did a good job defending junior and two-time GLIAC Player of the Week Katie Cezat, which was something the Chargers did not make adjustments for.
Sophomore guard Brooke Knight said the game against Michigan Tech was big because it pitted the two first-ranked teams in the North and South GLIAC divisions.
"We weren't as aggressive as we need to be and as we usually are," Knight said.
Knight said Sunday's game against Northern Michigan was just the opposite.
"We knew we had to get it done defensively," she said. "We really focused on that on Sunday. We had some people step up and have really good games."
Knight said sophomore Janay Miller and Cezat both played well Sunday.
"There was nothing that was going to stop her," Knight said of Cezat. "She tore it up."
Team captain Julie Slot, a senior, said after Saturday's game the team focused on a strong defense for Sunday.
"We got a little angry and that kind of inspired us," she said. "We really stepped up our defense."
During break the team played six games, only one of which was at home - against Lake Superior State University.
"We didn't get lucky but we were able to pull off a win," Knight said. "It was just one of those games."
The Chargers won by only 9 points.
Charney said the team needs to work on free throws in order to avoid close wins like that against Lake Superior State.
"We allowed them to stay in the game because of missed free throws," she said. "We have to be able to make free throws when it's tight. That's an individual thing. You make those and the whole game completely changes."
The team will take on Mercyhurst College tonight at 6 p.m. and No. 2 ranked Gannon University on Saturday at 1 p.m., both at home.
Knight said the team lost to Gannon three times last year and will face them twice this year. Gannon is currently 5-3 in GLIAC play; Hillsdale is 6-2.
Charney said the team can only continue to win if they focus on more than their past wins.
"When you win the way we've won, your expectations rise," she said. "We have to slow down and focus on our game. It is the process and not the end result."
The key to continuing to win, Charney said, is not to focus on winning the GLIAC championship, but winning the current game and moving on from there.
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