Things were looking decidedly down for the St. Thomas women at halftime of their game against the 1-7 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona led 12-6 after one period, by as many as 11 in the 2nd period, and 31-22 at the half as the Tommies shot 6-for-24 (25%). This on top of a disappointing 2-6 start. Only 6-3 sophomore post Alyssa Sand was really playing well, though Savannah Mcgowan and Faith Feuerbach were also playing, well, OK. But a solid 5-some had not really coalesced on the court as of yet, and they surely did not do so in today’s 1st half.
Then, well, the Tommies still trailed 49-38 at 2 minutes of the 3rd period when things began to click. Feuerbach and Mikayla Werner scored the last 6 points of the period, and suddenly the Tommies were within 49-44. Then they opened the 4th quarter with a 16-6 run (or a total of 22-6 going back those last 2 minutes of the 3rd). And, now they were ahead 60-55, and they were able to coast home from there.
What might have been especially gratifying to coach Ruth Sinn, still one of the very best in the business, was that it was a team effort. 7 players scored during that 22-6 run. Feuerbach led the way with 7 (and 22 for the afternoon). Only senior guard Jada Hood with 4 also scored more than once. Otherwise, Sand, Werner, Mcgowan, Laura Hauge and Lydia Aalsma all added a bucket. The Tommies turned the ball over 4 times down the stretch (not good) but also got 3 steals, 2 by Aalsma, a freshman guard from Wisconsin. Better yet, the Tommies shot 8-for-12 during the run, then made 3-of-3 FGs down the stretch, and then made 5-of-7 FT after that. Shooting the ball has not been a Tommie strong suit previously (39%-30% on 3s-69% from the line), so this was especially good news.
Also good news is the fact that 2 more winnable games follow at 1-5 Montana and D3 Crown before another major test pops up. That would be Drake. It’s shocking to see Drake at 1-5, but they will be a tough test for the Tommies nevertheless, even in St. Paul. Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois, 2 more winnable games, follow. Then the Summit Conference season opens on New Year’s Day in Brookings, SD (against South Dakota State). Yeah, right, happy New Year’s. Happy summiting.
In any event, for the moment, coach Sinn seems to have settled on a starting lineup of Sand, Feuerbach, Mcgowan, Hood and Hauge, with Hauge the newest addition to that lineup; and with Werner and Aalsma as her key bench players. The loss of last year’s guard tandem of Jada Hill (to graduation) and Amber Scalia (to a transfer) have proven to be big obstacles to success, but the Tommies certainly appeared in the 2nd half today to be headed back in the right direction.