Post by Grizzfan1 on Jan 18, 2016 16:13:18 GMT -5
The women's basketball team is 10-7 overall, and 2-4 in the Horizon League. They've been up and down this season and have had some tough opponents (as well as a couple of cupcake opponents). They've dropped their last three, the last two of which were very close games that could have gone either way. They have a lot of new players on the team, and I think they've started to gel as the season as progressed and they've learned Tungate's system as well as their teammates' styles.
Coach Tungate has them playing exciting basketball, and they're very close to getting over the hump and turning those close losses into wins. Reducing the turnovers, such as passes into traffic, and getting just a couple more rebounds a game could make a big difference for this team. They love to run, and their defense has improved as the season has progressed.
Senior Olivia Nash has been on fire lately and is leading the team with 18.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg. She passed the 1,000-point mark in the first game of the season, set OU's Division 1-era record for career double-doubles Thursday, and had a career-high 28 points Saturday. Elena Popkey and Sinclair Russell have continued to be very solid and consistent, with Popkey averaging 10.9 ppg and 5.3 apg, and Russell averaging 8.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Freshman Taylor Jones has been outstanding, adding a lot of excitement to the offense and averaging 13.3 ppg. She's a guard who isn't afraid to shoot a clutch three or drive to the basket and take contact.
Returning players Nola Anderson, Leah Somerfield, and Korrin Taylor have been very solid, and the depth has allowed Tungate to go deeper into his bench and use different starting lineups; only Nash has started all 17 games. Newcomers Taylor Gleason, Nicole Dodd, Sidney Santos, and Rio Dudgeon (the latter two of whom redshirted last season) have added to the depth and play important roles on the team. Gleason has started 12 of 13 games after becoming eligible midseason following her transfer from Illinois. She's very comfortable playing at a fast tempo and can go from 0 to 100 very quickly. She, along with Popkey, Jones, and Taylor, can run the point, shoot the three, drive to the basket, and dish the ball. Having a player with B1G experience is great for Oakland, and Gleason is very confident and decisive on the court. Santos provides some depth in the middle, but she can also shoot the three. Dodd and Dudgeon are sharpshooters who can put points on the board very quickly if they're left open outside. Nicole Dodd is Tungate's equivalent to Max Hooper -- while she has made two shots inside the arc this season, she primarily shoots the three and is leading the team in three-point percentage at 43.8%. She's a transfer from two-year Vincennes College, where she was an NJCAA second-team All-American last year, so she's an experienced player at the college level with a reputation for being an excellent shooter. Dudgeon is also a three-point specialist who was a very accurate shooter in high school, and I look for her to improve as she gains experience at this level.
I hope to see some of you at the O'rena for women's games during the Horizon League season -- there are doubleheaders on February 11 and February 13, as well as standalone games on February 27 (UDM), March 3, and March 5. I've heard players say that they really do notice the crowd support and that it means a lot to them, so please try to come out and support them if you have a chance. They're fun to watch, and I think Coach Tungate is building an excellent culture.
Agreed. Good update on the ladies!!