Nov. 25, 2001 – In Paradise Jam women's St. John Division play Sunday afternoon, the University of Richmond slid by Western Michigan University, 79-76, and No. 21-ranked Arizona State University defeated the Kansas State University, 76-58.
On Monday, St. John Division play continues in the Paradise Jam 2001 NCAA basketball tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center, as Arizona State takes on Richmond at 10 a.m. and Western Michigan meets Kansas State at 12:15 p.m.
University of Richmond Spiders 79, Western Michigan University Broncos 76
The Richmond Spiders rebounded Sunday afternoon following Saturday's late-night loss to Kansas State, beating the Western Michigan Broncos, 79-76.
The game was very close throughout, with the exception of a 14-5 run that the Spiders put on the Broncos to end the first half with a ten point lead, 39-29. The Broncos overcame that lead with a 20-10 run of their own in the first ten minutes of the second half to tie the game at 49.
Four minutes into the second half, the Spiders lost their premier three-point shooter, Elise Ryder, who was injured on a pick-and-roll play that she was trying to defend but did not see. "It seems like she got whiplash," Spiders head coach Bob Foley said afterward. "We are hopeful that it is just that."
In the next five minutes, the Broncos passed the Spiders to build up their biggest lead, points, 69-64. Richmond's Krystn Gull then hit two consecutive three-pointers to give them the lead for good.
"This was a must win for us after the late night lost to Kansas State yesterday," a happy coach Foley said after the game. "We hit big shots down the stretch and made our free throws. That shows a lot of character."
Gull and Ebony Tanner, who each scored 18 points, led the Spiders offensively. Tanner had a double double with 12 rebounds, while Michele Koclanes contributed 17 points.
"We put a lot of effort into the game against Arizona State last night, and it showed in the way we started the game off today," Broncos head coach Ron Steward said.
Western Michigan had three players in double figures — Karen Deurloo with 22, Casey Rost with 18, and Kristin Koetsier with 13. Deurloo and Koetsier each grabbed nine rebounds.
Both teams now have a record of 2-3 for the season.
Arizona State University Sun Devils 76, Kansas State University Wildcats 58
Things got hot Sunday afternoon at the women's St. John Division of the 2001 Paradise Jam as the No. 21-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils dominated Kansas State Wildcats for a 76-58 victory.
The Sun Devils' defensive game gave them total control of the ball and the game as they forced the Wildcats into committing 27 turnovers. Arizona State got 30 points off turnovers in the game.
The Sun Devils' bench outcame the Wildcats' bench 18-7 in the game. "We were not playing well so far this season, but tonight our bench played well," Sun Devils head coach Charli Turner Thorne said afterward.
Amanda Levens led the Sun Devils' scoring with a game-high 29 points. Teammate Melody Johnson contributed 11 and six rebounds. "We played tough tonight, and we all came together as a team," Thorne said.
The Wildcats had three players in double figures — Kendra Wecker with 17 points, Megan Mahoney with 16, and Nicole Ohlde with 14. The threesome also led the team in rebounds, with 8 by Ohlde, 7 by Mahoney and 5 by Wecker.
"We struggled from the perimeter and committed too many turnovers," Wildcats coach Deb Patterson said. "ASU played aggressive and physical." Wecker, Mahoney and Ohlde literally accounted for all of the Kansas offense. "For us to be effective, we've got to get more players involved," Patterson added.
The Sun Devils improve their record to 3-2, while the Wildcats dropped their first game of young season and fell to 3-1. St. John Division play continues Monday.
Admission of $10 for local residents is good for both games.
