Jan. 8, 2001
Women's Basketball: Truman at Washburn - Pregame Notes
The Game: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate
Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs. Washburn University (NCAA DII/MIAA)
Date/Time: Monday, Jan. 8, 2001/5:30 pm
Location: Topeka, Kan.
Arena (Capacity): Lee Arena (4,298)
Broadcast: KRES 104.7 FM in Moberly, Mo., Sports Director Brad Boyer will do play-by-play, with commentary from Kevin White, Truman Assistant Director of Athletics. The pregame show begins approximately 15 minutes before the game.
The campus station, KTRM 88.7, is tentatively scheduled to also broadcast the Jan. 20 & 27 and Feb. 10 games.
Team Line: Live KRES broadcast by calling 1-800-846-4700. Access Code: 6350
Truman Probable Starters
10-Jessy Fletcher, Jr., G/F, 5-11 (10.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
25-Annie Westhoff, G/F, 6-0, Fr. (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
35-Jennifer Perkins, Jr., C/F, 6-1 (15.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
13-Robyn Gerber, Jr., G, 5-8 (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
11-Tessa Thurman, Jr., G, 5-6 (7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Washburn Probable Starters
22-Jennifer Butcher, F, 6-0, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
25-Jodi Rausch, F, 6-0, Sr. (10.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
30-Jovanae St. Cyr, G/F, 5-11, Jr. (6.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
20-Bethany McGraw, G, 5-6, So. (6.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
23-Thorlan Buchanan, G, 5-5, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Truman (6-4 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA): The Bulldogs are enjoying their first conference win after defeating Missouri Southern 91-75 in Kirksville on Saturday. They are now 6-4 and 1-1 in the MIAA, losing to Central Missouri in the league opener. The 'Dogs completed the non-conference and 2000 portion of their schedule on a three-game win-streak and were 3-1 during the month of December.
The three-game skein began with a 73-51 win over Mt. Mercy, before going undefeated on the road to close out non-conference action. The Bulldogs' away wins were at Rockhurst in a rematch on Dec. 15 57-44, followed by a trip to Nebraska-Omaha on Dec. 17 when Truman's most recent triumph was charted, an 80-68 win over the Mavericks.
All three of Truman's non-conference losses this year were by a combined five points, and all four losses for the season have been by a combined 14 points. The 'Dogs opened the 2000-01 campaign with a 73-71 loss to Tampa (Fla.) in the Quincy (Ill.) Tournament, before registering their first win over the host, 50-48. Truman won its first home encounter 99-66 against St. Joseph's (Ind.), but then hit a two-game slide, falling to Rockhurst 58-56 in Kirksville and Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) 66-65 in a neutral site game at Rockhurst.
About the Lady Blues (6-4 overall, 0-2 in the MIAA): Washburn returned 10 individuals, including all-MIAA picks, seniors Jennifer Butcher and Jodi Rausch. However, 24-year taskmaster Patty Dick was replaced by Ron McHenry who served for 11 years as an assistant coach for the Washburn men's team.
The Lady Blues opened the season at home with a win over Bethany (Kan.) 73-59 and then headed for the Torneo Cancun de Basquetbol tournament in Cancun, Mexico. WU suffered its first loss in the tourney 61-59 over Hillsdale (Mich.), but began a five-game winning streak with its next tournament game by beating Millersville (Pa.), 61-59. The string continued with triumphs over Ft. Hays State (Kan.) at home 82-71, and Arkansas-Monticello 78-59 and Angelo State (Texas) 69-68 in the Drury Classic. Washburn's most recent win was an 85-53 thrashing of William Jewell on Dec. 16. The Lady Blues have lost their last three contests, including both MIAA games. In their last non-conference encounter, WU lost to Missouri-St. Louis 59-51 and then opened the MIAA campaign with losses to Missouri Southern 73-67 and Southwest Baptist, 70-54.
The Lady Blues are led by sophomore guard Kristy Chapman with 12.0 points a game, while Rausch is second at 10.9 points per contest. The team's rebounding leader is sophomore forward Crystal Walker with 7.0 a game.
Junior guard Thorlan Buchanan rounds out Washburn's double-figure scorers with 10.5 points a game and leads the team with 41 assists so far this season. Chapman is the team's three-point shooter, going 9-of-25, and sophomore guard Bethany McGraw is second with a 7-of-18 effort in 2000-01. Rausch leads the team with at 73.1 from the free throw line.
Chapman is tied for 15th among MIAA scoring leaders (12.0 ppg), while Rausch is ranked 19th (10.9 ppg). Walker is tied for 10th in MIAA rebounding (7.0 rpg) and Butcher is tied for 14th (6.6 rpg). Buchanan is currently eighth in league assists (4.10 pg).
Series Records: Washburn leads the overall series with the Truman women, 18-6. The two teams have split for the last three seasons with each contingent winning on its home court. The Lady Blues had a nine-game win-streak going in the series before Truman registered a 66-49 win on Feb. 2, 1998, in Kirksville.
The 'Dogs most recent overtime game was the 89-85 loss to WU in the two teams' last encounter on Jan. 31, 2000.
THE COACHES: Bulldog Head Coach John Sloop is in his first season as a collegiate head coach, but served five years as the assistant coach for the Truman men's team.
Ron McHenry is also in his first season with the Lady Blues and as a head coach. McHenry served as assistant coach for the Washburn men's team for 11 seasons before taking the reigns for the women's team.
Bulldogs in the MIAA: Junior center/forward Jennifer Perkins (Fort Dodge, Iowa/St. Edmund) is sixth in the conference with 15.3 points a game, and is tied for fifth in rebounding (7.7 rpg), is fifth in field goal percentage (.532) and is fourth in MIAA blocked shots (1.10 pg).
Sophomore forward/center Jennifer Fisher (Fordland, Mo./Marshfield) is 18th in MIAA scoring (11.0 ppg), third in rebounding (9.0 rpg), tied for second in three-point field goal percentage (.500) and is third in blocked shots (1.20 pg).
Junior guard/forward Jessy Fletcher (Atlanta, Mo.) is eighth in rebounding (7.4 pg) and tied for sixth in blocked shots (0.80 pg).
Junior guard Tessa Thurman (Atlanta, Mo./John Woods CC) is 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.298) and is tied for seventh in three-point field goals made (1.70 pg).
Junior point guard Robyn Gerber (Affton, Mo./Lutheran South) is rated 10th in assist/turnover ratio in the conference (1.50).
Truman vs. Missouri Southern: The only lead Missouri Southern enjoyed was 2-0 in the first minute of action. Fletcher then began a 9-0 run, tying the score half a minute later. The Bulldogs went ahead for good after Perkins grabbed the defensive rebound on a missed MSSC three-pointer and freshman forward/guard Annie Westhoff (Webster Groves, Mo.) layed it in with an assist from Gerber at 18:13.
The 'Dogs expanded their lead to 10 points at 12:37 and to 11 five times after that, the last coming two seconds before the buzzer when freshman guard Keagan Thalin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) hit a jumper to leave MSSC with a 36-25 deficit at halftime.
Truman was shooting 51.7% from the field at the half and bettered that to 56.6% by the conclusion of the game. It was the team's first game shooting over 50 percent from the field since a 50.7 effort against Northwest Missouri on Feb. 16, 2000.
In the second stanza, the Bulldogs enjoyed double-digit leads for most of the remainder of the game. They held the Lady Blues scoreless in the last minute of play, while going on a 6-0 run. The 'Dogs took their biggest lead of the game with six seconds remaining when Thalin sank two charity shots to complete a perfect 8-of-8 performance for the game.
Truman was 24-of-28 (.857) from the line for the game as three others were 2-for-2, and Fletcher went 3-of-4 and Gerber was 7-of-9. The Bulldogs hit 18 straight charity shots in the last 5:24 of the contest.
Bits on the Bulldogs
40-Jennifer Fisher: Had career highs and team season-highs with 25 points and five three-pointers vs. St. Joseph's (Ind.) on Nov. 24 ... leads the team in rebounding with 9.0 a game (90) ... scored in double figures in seven games this year, including four double-doubles ... best rebounding game was vs. Rockhurst when she grabbed 13 boards ... already ranks fifth on the Truman career blocked shots list with 35 ... started the first five games of the season, but has led the team off the bench the last four contests ... led the 'Dogs with 15 points vs. CMSU ... also leads the Bulldogs with 14 steals and is tied for the team-lead with 30 assists ... her 5-of-5 performance from long range in the St. Joseph's contest ties her with one other individual in the MIAA for the best single-game percentage (1.000) from beyond the arc so far this season ... has sank her last 11 free throws.
10-Jessy Fletcher: John Wood Community College Transfer ... has started every game and scored in double figures six times with two double-doubles ... best game was vs. St. Joseph's with 15 points and 14 rebounds, both of which are her senior college career highs ... averaging double figures with 10.3 points a game for third on the team ... currently has the best field goal percentage on the squad with .548 (40-of-73).
13-Robyn Gerber: A full-time starter this season at point guard, she is fourth in scoring on the team with 9.48 points a game ... has five games this year with double-digit scoring ... led the team with 15 points in Truman's first MIAA win over Missouri Southern on Jan. 6 and with 12 points in the team's first victory of the year at Quincy (Ill.) ... is tied for the team season-high with six assists in the first Rockhurst encounter on Nov. 28 and is tied for first on the squad for the year with 30 ... had the game-winning assist in the 50-48 win over Quincy, the season's first victory.
30-Carrie Guenzler: Saw action in the St. Joseph's and Mt. Mercy games ... attempted one three-pointer vs. Mt. Mercy.
14-Jennifer McDonnell: In three games this year, she has had one four and one turnover after walking on in the fall.
35-Jennifer Perkins: The teams leading scorer (15.3 ppg), Perkins has charted eight games with double-digit scoring, including three 20-plus efforts .... her best game this year was against Concordia, St. Paul with 23 points ... has two double-doubles for the year in the games vs. Rockhurst (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Central Missouri (15 points, 12 rebounds) ... has led the team in scoring in six contest so far this year ... is currently in the 19th spot on the Bulldog career scoring leaders list with 702 points, five points away from No. 18 ... is fourth on the Truman list for career blocked shots with 40, two away from No. 3 ... had a team season-high with 10 field goals vs. Concordia ... scored the game-winning bucket in the teams first win in 2000-01 vs. Quincy ... has mad last six free throws.
Keagan Thalin: She has come off the bench in every game to average 4.4 points and is 28-of-37 from the free throw line ... had her first double-digit scoring game vs. Nebraska-Omaha with 13 points and charted second vs. Missouri Southern with 10 points ... has tallied seven assists in four games so far, charting a career high with four vs. MSSC ... had a career high with 11-of-14 performance from the charity stripe vs. Nebraska-Omaha and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line against Missouri Southern ... her 11 free throws vs. UNO ties for second in the MIAA for most in a single-game this year .... she has hit her last 10 free throws dating back to the last minute of the UNO game.
11-Tessa Thurman: John Wood Community College Transfer ... the No. 2 guard, she has started every contest this season and leads the team with 17 long range buckets ... had a career high 14 points in the season-opener against Tampa and vs. Mt. Mercy ... also scored 11 points in the St. Joseph's and Missouri Southern contests to account for all of her double-digit scoring games this year ... made four treys against Tampa.
23-Emily Turnbull: A reserve point guard, Turnbull has played in every game, charting 13 assists and averaging 2.6 points a game ... she is 13-of-20 from the charity stripe ... had career highs with seven points vs. Missouri Southern and four assists vs. Concordia, St. Paul.
12-Erin Tweedy: A bench contributor, Tweedy has played in three games, charting one rebound ... a walk-on.
24-Annie Westhoff: Garnered a starting role in the last five games ... fifth in team scoring with 8.2 points a game ... had double-digit scoring efforts in three games, including her first double-double with career highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds vs. St. Joseph's ... also had two blocked shots vs. St. Joseph's ... she is fourth on the team in rebounding with 5.4 a game ... led the team with four steals vs. Mt. Mercy.
Ashlea Wood: Has come off the bench in nine games this year and scored 13 points ... had a career-high with six points vs. St. Joseph's ... was 3-for-3 from the free throw line vs. Mt. Mercy.
Truman at Washburn: 1-3-00: Truman fell behind by eight points at the 15-minute mark. However, the Bulldogs battled back behind a 13-2 run soon after to take a 26-25 lead at the half.
The 'Dogs toughened up through eight lead changes and eight ties in the second half. Their biggest lead came near the 13-minute mark when they went ahead by five behind 5-of-6 free throw shooting from junior guards April Warren-Grice and Wendi Sobaski and junior center Lisa Bryan.
Washburn took a four-point lead with 6:24 left to play and again with 3:36 remaining. The later was the Lady Blues' last lead of the game as Gerber gave the 'Dogs the go-ahead, grabbing the offensive rebound on a missed free throw and putting it back. WU tied the score at 60 with 1:09 left in the game.
Gerber then hit two free throws to give Truman a two-point margin, while WU missed its next two free shots. Junior forward Kelli Kreuser gave the Bulldogs their final three-point lead with another free throw with 20 seconds remaining. The Lady Blues missed a desperation three point shot with seven seconds left and Gerber grabbed the defensive rebound to end the game.
Truman vs. Washburn on Jan. 31, 2000: The 'Dogs trailed for most of the first half, taking a two-point lead briefly at 13:43. However, WU tied the score by 13:31 and went ahead for the remainder of the period at 13:19. Truman came back from an 11-point deficit at 2:23 in the first half on jumpers by Sobaski and Perkins, a 2-of-2 performance from the line by Megan Kahn and another jumper by Kreuser, to cut the Lady Blues' lead to three. Truman trailed 39-34 at intermission when WU hit a jumper to close first-half scoring.
Washburn expanded its lead to nine by 19:16 in the second half only to see the Bulldogs go on a 14-3 run and grab the lead at 13:27. However the Lady Blues would exchange the lead with Truman nine more times and tie the score five times before the extra session. Perkins sent the game into overtime after grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it in with four seconds left in the game.
In overtime, the Bulldogs took a quick five-point lead on a Kreuser jumper and a three-pointer by Sobaski. But Washburn then went on an 8-0 run to take the final lead of the game. Kreuser hit a jumper with 47 seconds remaining to cut the WU margin to one. However that would be the last points Truman scored, while the Lady Blues added a layup and free throw to put the final score in their favor, 89-85.