Game 9: Gophers Host Eastern Michigan (12-3-17)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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The Mystery of Rochester College

Eastern Michigan (2-4) rolls into Williams Arena on a four game losing streak. They last lost at Loyola Marymount 64-60. LMU led 16-6 at the end of the first quarter and held on. Former Gopher Josie Buckingham played 2 minutes for LMU and posted 1 rebound, 2 fouls and 1 assist.

Last season Eastern Michigan was 1-17 in the MAC (6-25 overall) and finished with an 11 game losing streak, This season the Eagles are projected 6th (last) in the MAC West division.

Eastern Michigan has used 9 different starters and features 11 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game. The two leading scorers are guards Danielle Minott 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and Courtnie Lewis with 12.3 points per game.

There is a local connection: senior guard Esabelle Levine is from Eden Prairie. There is sort of another local connection, head coach, Fred Castro, according to his bio, was an advance scout for the Lynx during the 09-10 season. Castro is in his second year and came to Ypsilanti from the University of Washington where he was an assistant for three years.

Now, about that mystery. Rochester (Michigan) College is an NAIA school; but the EMU schedule, unlike the Rochester schedule, lists (and counts) this as a regular game not as an exhibition. Nevertheless, it was 20-20 at the half before EMU outscored them 42-9 in the second half. Before now I was unaware of of Rochester College. The are the Warriors by the way and they arrived in Ypsilanti after a 72-62 win at Trinity Christian College.

Wins: Florida A&M 83-61; Rochester 62-29.

Losses: @Cleveland State 65-77; @ St. Bonaventure 51-70; @(LA) Denver 60-64; @ Loyola Marymount 60-73.
 

Interesting info about Josie Buckingham. Thanks, Iggy. Maybe if she had stayed at Minnesota, we'd have our current scarcity of post players. (Sarcasm.)
 



Fernstrom with her best game in a long time. T. Bello also with a solid game. She's starting to show some range with her shots. If the Gophers can get her to hit some shots away from the basket, she'll get more time at the 4 spot. Another underwhelming opponent. Who is responsible for this powderpuff schedule? It's not helping the Gophers to prepare for their conference schedule....and if by chance the Gophers are on the NCAA bubble at the end of the year, this schedule will be held against them. I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I still don't like this team defensively. Georgetown next, in D.C.
 


http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400993717

It was instructional day. Pitts and Taiye Bello were in and out often based on miscues. When they came to the bench there were generally discussions. Same was true for other subs. Minnesota started with some nifty pick and rolls using Edwards or Fernstrom. Those were good from a quick six points. When the pick and roll was shut down, Stollings went to some high low post play. The posts got a true work out today.

EMU had no answer for Fernstrom (yes it's true). And we finally got to see both T. Bello and Fernstrom find the hole in the zone at the free throw line and knock down left handed jumpers.

Bell led the scoring with 18 and the turnovers with 6. Kiki found the bench in the second quarter after her second "don't do that" charges. It did help give Gonzalez some added playing time. Gonzalez had some great passes and a couple of turnovers. Kiki was excellent fro three 4-8 from behind the arc. The Gophers were a poor 7-25 from three otherwise it would have been a rout.

And as Tripledouble said, defense continues to be suspect. Too many drives down the lane with minimal resistance.

Minutes Played (Starters Bolded) Brunson started in place of Hubbard.

32 Wagner
32 Hubbard
27 Bell
25 T. Bello
20 Pitts
18 Fernstrom
16 Edwards
15 Gonzalez
14 Brunson
1 Lamke
 

not surprising vs EM

overpass said:
17 & 9 would be nice from her every game. :)
Click to expand...

Now come the next game Fernstrom will probably do one thing wrong in the coaches eyes and be back in the doghouse for Edwards. Fernstroms floor is Edwards ceiling. Hope she can keep it up and can pair more with Bello to really give us a shot at a special season. Given our defensive issues we need some offense from our bigs.
 

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/120317aad.html



Bryanna Fernstrom, Minnesota Senior Center
On her individual play today and preparing for the game...

“The scout this game was really focused on us having openings as a five player, so we were really just taking advantage of that, and like Coach said, finishing was really important for us. It was really the scout telling us to finish so that’s what we did."

Taiye Bello, Minnesota Sophomore Forward
On her individual play today and preparing for the game…

“Like Coach said, rebounding was the key for this game, so when I go into the game I try and start off with that and then from there work on the offense, so that’s what I did today.
 

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