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Tough Defense Not Enough, Women Fall to UC

By Kevin C. Smith
The Lady Raiders (4-6) travelled to Cincinnati to face the University of Cincinnati (7-5) on Dec 29th. Cincy held on for a win, 51-45. Wright State women will now start Horizon League play, on the road. They will finally return to the Nutter Center on Jan 14th at 7pm to host Loyola.

December 30, 2009
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Wright State lost to UC last year at home, by a score of 56-41. Going into this game on the Bearcats home court, WSU had an RPI of 181. They were going to play a team with an RPI of 91. Both teams had been playing tough non-conference schedules. So, UC expectations were looking for another win over WSU. They found that they would have to fight a much improved team to get that win.

Wright State's tough and much improved defense gave UC fits throughout the game. Senior Erica Richardson would open the scoring in the game at the 18:24 mark. WSU would keep the lead until a three point shot gave UC the lead at 15:14. In the first half the score would be tied three times and the lead would change five times. It was a good battle being done by WSU.

UC shot 50% (10-20) and grabbed 13 points off WSU turnovers in the first half. WSU did give the ball up 14 times in the half and shot only 34.8% (8-23). However, they were controlling the boards, 16-9, had more steals, 5-4 and both teams had 6 assists. Four Raiders shot 50% (3-6) from beyond the arc for the half.

Richardson had seven points and two rebounds in the half and was leading the team. That included shooting one for one from beyond the arc. UC couldn't get more than a five point lead during the half, however at the halftime buzzer they did go into the locker room holding onto a three point lead, 25-22.

UC made some adjustments during the break and so did the referees. UC adjusted the defense to cover our three point shots and watch players like Sophomore Maria Bennett who shot 1-2 from beyond the line for her only three points in the first half and thanks to the defense, the game as a whole. The team finished with just 26.7% (4-15) from beyond the arc. During the first half there were only ten total fouls called. At the end of the game, the refs had called a total of 29, with WSU having five more than UC. A complete change in how they called the game.

The Bearcats came out strong and grabbed a nine point lead, 35-26, with 15:55 left in the game. However, the Lady Raiders weren't giving up. A layup by Junior LaShawna Thomas cut the lead to just one, 40-39 at the 7:48 mark. However that was as close as they could come to grabbing the lead. UC could never get a large lead, but did get the win in the end. The 459 fans, including several former Raider athletes, saw a great game played by the Lady Raiders.

Wright State finished shooting 39.6% (19-48), while UC shot 42.2% (19-45). Both teams had 22 turnovers, UC normally turns it over only 17 times per game. The Raiders kept control of the boards however. They grabbed 30 rebounds to 28 for UC. Cincinnati averages 37.5 rebounds coming into tonight's game.

Sophomore Molly Fox, in 23 minutes of play, lead the team with 10 points and five rebounds. Thomas also sank ten points. She had two rebounds, four steals and five assists as well. Every Raider grabbed at least one rebound. Eight out of the nine players also scored. In the end however, the University of Cincinnati got the win, 51-45.

The Lady Raiders will now start Horizon League play, with three road games, staring in Detroit on Sun January 3rd. Then they face the two strong Wisconsin teams before returning home Thursday Jan 14th to host Loyola at 7pm.