The Bellevue College Bulldogs women’s basketball team hosted the Skagit Valley Cardinals on Wednesday, Jan. 11, for their second league contest, and it was a movie we had seen before. In the first half, the Bulldogs came out flat, and were not able to get a rhythm going on offense only putting up 20 points in the first half on 21.9% shooting. Unfortunately, the lack of success on offense also created a lack of defensive intensity and the Bulldogs would find themselves down at half time 40-20. In the second half, the Bulldogs finally got themselves going and outscored the Cardinals by 12, but were unable to completely close the gap, and ended with their first loss of the league season, SVC 75-BC 67. “Anytime you spot a quality
opponent 20 points, everything has to go your way to overcome that kind of a deficit,” said Bellevue head coach Brent Hermanson. “As a team we have to find a way to play defense regardless of what we are doing on offense, so we can stay in the game when we are struggling to score”. Bulldog sophomore Kelsey Sparks still hammered out a double-double, scoring 18 points with 12 rebounds, with TyShana Burgess and Sanda Milovic each contributing 10 points.
On Saturday, Jan. 14, looking to get back on track, Bellevue traveled to North Seattle CC to take on the Storm. The game started poorly again for the Bulldogs, although shooting the ball better and playing better defensively, they still found themselves down at half time 28-24. Every time the Bulldogs have trailed at half time this year, they’ve finished with a loss, so it was important for the team to get over the deficit and find a way to win on the road.
In the second half, Bellevue found salvation in DeMarea Caples, Brittany Barrington, Taylor Wofford, Burgess, and Sparks. “Those five competed hard at the defensive end like we had early in the season,” said Hermanson, “and that effort turned into points in the second half.” The Bulldogs were again led by Sparks with 21; Milovic, 16; and Burgess, 11. According to Coach Hermanson, the real story was Bellevue’s ability to come together as a team and overcome the 13-point deficit in the second half to get a road win.
The Bulldogs (2-1, 10-4) regularly scheduled game against Whatcom (3-1, 8-6) for Jan. 16, was canceled due to inclement weather, and rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 23. So, next up on the Bulldogs’ schedule is Edmonds on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Bellevue College, but stayed tuned as that may be rescheduled as well if Mother Nature intervenes.
Last Updated November 1, 2013
