Cardinals' defense in mid-season form
as SMU reaches tournament title game

WINONA, Minn. — It may have been the first two games of the season, but the Saint Mary’s University women’s basketball team’s defense was in mid-season form last weekend.

The Cardinals held UW-Whitewater to 45 points, while keeping the University of Chicago to just 51 during their two games of the Midway Classic in Chicago, Ill.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ offense wasn’t quite as far along.

SMU scored just 86 points in the two games — netting 46 in a one-point, 46-45 triumph over UW-Whitewater in the opening-round of the four-team tournament, but managing just 40 in a 51-40 loss to the University of Chicago in the title game.

“I thought our defense was outstanding,” said SMU coach Kim Fierke. “I knew coming into the season that we could be a very strong defensive team, and we showed that (during the two-day tournament).

“Now we have to make sure to play that way every single game.”

And get a little more support from their other half.

“When you hold a team to right around 50 points, chances are, you are going to come away with a win,” Fierke said. “We just did not shoot the ball well — especially in the second game.”

Jenny Long (Westmont, Ill.) netted a game-high 18 points in leading SMU to its one-point win over UW-Whitewater in the opener, but the fact that the Cardinals shot just 30 percent from the field, and nearly blew a 27-18 halftime advantage, had Fierke a little concerned as the Cardinals headed into the title game against U. of Chicago.

In the title game, the SMU defense was once again on top of its game as the Cardinals held Chicago to 30 percent shooting (14-for-47), while forcing 21 turnovers and basically making life miserable for their hosts.

At the same time, however, the Cardinals’ shooting woes were making life miserable for Fierke, who could only watch as her offense struggled in every facet — free throws (0-2 in the first half, 11 of 18 overall), field goals (9 of 25), and 3-pointers (1 of 14) — en route to the 11-point loss.

“We just didn’t shoot the ball well, plain and simple,” said Fierke, whose team returns to action Wednesday, Nov. 29, at home against cross-town rival Winona State. “We were a little tentative at the start, and then when the shots didn’t start falling, we panicked. And once that happened, it affected our whole offense — we were missing layups, short jumpers, free throws … .

“It was a struggle.”

A struggle that certainly had a silver lining — thanks to SMU’s play at the other end of the court.

“Overall I thought things went pretty well,” admitted Fierke. “Obviously, we need to shoot the ball better than we did, but our defensive play was very encouraging.

“It was a good start.”

FYI: Stacy Hammel (Manitowoc, Wis.) posted the Cardinals’ first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and adding a game-high 12 rebounds vs. U. of Chicago. … The Cardinals’ Hammel and Jenny Long (Westmont, Ill.) were named to the Midway Classic All-Tournament Team. … Long scored a game-high 18 points in SMU’s 46-45 win over UW-Whitewater Friday. … Jenny Gilles (Keizer, Ore.) was the team’s leading scorer in Sunday’s loss to U. of Chicago, scoring 16 points.