College women: Yellow Jackets buzz into second round

BH wins first-round DAC playoff, 86-64

By Mike Besso, Lawrence County Journal | Monday, February 25, 2008

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

SPEARFISH - The goal for teams in the Dakota Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament is simple ... win three games and earn a berth in the NAIA national tournament.

Black Hills State took the first step toward the goal, collecting an 86-64 win over Dickinson State on Sunday afternoon in the first round of the DAC tournament at the Donald E. Young Center.

The win sent the Lady Yellow Jackets into the semifinal round of the conference tourney on Wednesday. BHSU hosts Jamestown College at 7 p.m.

The Jimmies, the sixth seed, upset third-seeded Minot State on Sunday.

Four players reached double-figure scoring for the Lady Jackets in the first round win. Brittany Fuhrman canned 17 points. The Mobridge sophomore connected on 5-of-8 3-point attempts in the contest. Joining Fuhrman in double-digit point production were seniors Snjezana Dojcinovic and Lacey Haughian, with 16 each. Katelynn Lamb chipped in 11 points.

"We had very good balance in scoring," said BHSU coach Mark Nore. "We had a nice inside-outside game."

Teryl Norton and Brittany Meza tallied 18 points apiece for the Blue Hawks. Norton sank 6-of-7 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

Mesa converted three of her five 3-point attempts.

Back-to-back trifectas by Fuhrman gave the hosts an early 6-0 advantage.

Six points by Haughian upped the lead to 18-10. Dickinson State answered with eight straight points. A basket by JaTonn Parham knotted the score at 18-18.

Five points in a row by Dojcinovic handed the Lady Jackets the permanent lead. The Blue Hawks remained within striking distance, led by their 3-point shooting. DSU drained 6-of-11 treys in the opening half.

Black Hills held a 44-38 halftime lead. "They shot a great percentage (55 percent) in the first half," said Nore.

"Shooting the ball from the perimeter has been our modus operandi all year," said Blue Hawks coach Guy Fridley. "Our kids came out intense and did the things we wanted to do."

The Lady Jackets passed the ball inside in the second half to Dojcinovic and Haughian. Six points apiece by the two players opened up a 70-48 BHSU edge.

"We talked about giving up the 35-40 percent shot from the perimeter instead of the 70-80 percent inside shot," said Fridley. "They (Lady Jackets) went on a run on us."

BHSU owned the rebounding match-up, 40-20, led by Haughian's eight caroms.

"In the second half, we held them to 30 percent shooting, we did a great job against their dribble penetration. Alexis Krull really got the ball distributed well," Nore said of the Hill City junior, who dished out five assists.

"Brittany Fuhrman shot the ball well. When she is on, she is really on.

"Z (Dojcinovic) and Haughian were good inside. Alana Dykhouse is so physical. When she's active like she was today, she's tough."

Dickinson State closed the season at 8-21. Three seniors - Elise Daughton, Cristina Velazquez and Meza - played their final collegiate game for the Blue Hawks.

"Our three seniors are great people," said Fridley. "That's what we instill in our program. I couldn't have asked any more of those three. They set the foundation of where we go in the future. We doubled our win total from a year ago."

Coach Fridley was asked his view on the number of DAC teams that should receive a berth in the national tournament. "I think we deserve three. Minot State is probably on the outside looking in. Black Hills and Dakota State both deserve to be there. They are both outstanding ballclubs."

BHSU, 24-5 overall, swept both of its games against Jamestown College this season. "We just have to take care of business on Wednesday," said Nore.