VINCENNES, Ind. – The No. 21-ranked Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers dug themselves a big hole, facing a 22-point halftime deficit. VU managed to claw their way back into the game, cutting the lead to single digits in the third quarter, but just ran out of time as Olney Central came away with the 73-68 win.
Vincennes started out hitting, jumping out to a 12-4 early lead midway through the first quarter, prompting Olney Central coach Clint Burris to call a timeout.
After the timeout, the Blue Knights finished the quarter on a 17-2 scoring run to hold a five point lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
Olney Central rode this momentum through the second quarter as VU only managed to score nine points in the second quarter to fall behind 45-23 at the break.
The momentum swung in the third quarter, with the Trailblazers outscoring Olney Central 25-12, making the score 57-48 heading in the final 10 minutes of play.
Vincennes continued to cut into the Olney Central lead, only being down two with under a minute to play. Olney Central hit their free throws late to grow the lead back to the eventual five-point margin.
"We ran into a scoring drought in the first half, we had them down 12-4, they called a timeout and we scored 11 more points the rest of the half," VU Hall of Fame head coach Harry Meeks said. "In the second quarter we came out and absolutely couldn't hit anything and it was more about us than it was them."
"We got frustrated on the floor, we had people not guarding, it was not a pretty thing to watch and from a coaching standpoint, that's unforgivable. To play like that and to give up that many points, to be outscored by 17 points in the quarter."
"We came out in the second half and played much better, but it's really hard to recover from being behind by 22 points. We fought back, we played pretty hard. I think we made a couple mistakes and they shot the lights out and I'm sure my defense is a part of that, we're giving them open shots and if we're going to be a contender at all, we're going to have to find something out offensively."
VU was led offensively by Amani Brown, who finished with 17 points and four assists.
Alexis Radcliff recorded a double-double coming off the bench, ending her night with 14 points and 13 rebounds, eight of which coming on the offensive glass.
Reeva Hammelman was the third Trailblazer to reach double-figures, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds.
"We took a huge number of shots for our players to only be scoring 17 and 15 points. I think we have to be a more efficient in what we're doing. I know we missed at least eight or nine layups and I think if we would have made our layups we would have won the game but we can't miss eight bunnies like that. That second quarter, being outscored 26-9 that doesn't help at all."
Vincennes will hit the road next week to take on Rend Lake in Ina, Ill. Wednesday, March 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. eastern.
"We've got to continue to work on our defense, we've got to work on our offense, we've got to be more efficient on both defense and offense and we definitely have to make our layups. It's concentration, it's hard work. It's coming to practice everyday and putting in a hard day's work."
"We're going to have to try to clean up everything that we do," Meeks added. "Our press is not bad, we got some turnovers out of it, we didn't give up any layups out of it. I probably should have used that in the first half to speed the game up and get us out of that lull that we were in. Ball handling is going to have to be a premium. Being able to turn the corner and get to the rim is a big thing with us and we've got to force the action."
