By Ryan Tarletsky, freshman
This year’s women’s basketball team has been defined by overcoming adversity. Injuries to key upperclassmen have tested the team’s will to fight, Head Coach Gayla Soyez said.
“It was tough for us to lose so many close games at the beginning of the year, especially when I knew that if we had the right combination of players out there, we would win easily,” Soyez said. “Several players had to step up for us, and I was proud of the way they played.”
Freshman Kinsley Hilst, Ashley Mills and Rachel Ely have seen significant playing time this season and haven’t disappointed. Hilst is averaging nearly 10 points a game, while Ely has been grabbing rebounds, and Mills is creating plays for the Falcons on both the offensive and defensive side of the court. Sophomores Calli Mathews and Katie Alesia Porter have also contributed to the overall team effort this season.
The Falcons began their season with several losses of fewer than nine points, including a Nov. 3 loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 69-64, and a Dec. 5 loss to Southwestern College, 59-54.
Recently however, the Falcons’ fortune has changed with five straight wins heading into tonight’s matchup (Jan.28) at Southwestern College. With wins against conference foes such as Bethel, Ottawa and Tabor, the Falcons appear to have caught fire heading toward the conference tournament. They are currently placed fourth in the conference with a 10-10 overall record and 6-4 record in conference play.
“Our defensive intensity really picked up once we got Ta’Vionna Polley-Davis back,” said Soyez. “Ta’Vionna is the type of player who can make special things happen on both ends of the floor. We really missed her at the beginning of the year because we always place Ta’Vionna on our opponent’s top scoring threat, and we were really struggling with that earlier in the year.”
During their five game winning streak, the Falcons have scored more than 60 points in every game, due to a possible scoring threat at every position, Soyez said. With senior forward Jessica Halsig ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, and senior point guard Alyson Snell contributing with an average of more than 10 points per game, the Falcons’ offense can guarantee a shot to win any game they play.
Assistant Coach Lia Faber is excited with the direction the team is headed.
“We are communicating together more as a team now, instead of five individuals on the court at once like in the beginning of the season. Our offense flows better, and our overall team defense is better when we work together as a team.”
Teamwork seems to be the name of the game, as points from the bench have increased lately, as well as an increase in the number of assists.
“Alyson Snell is a team leader that creates shots for not only herself, but her teammates while running the offense,” said Faber.
As the Falcons look ahead to games against conference foes like Sterling, Kansas Wesleyan and McPherson, the main focus will be to improve on free throw shooting and team rebounding. The Falcons have been out-rebounded by more than 132 rebounds on the season this far, and will need to fight for more second chance opportunities on the offensive side to continue their run deep into the conference tournament.
The Falcons play at home on Saturday at 5 p.m. against the University of St. Mary, which is tied for sixth in the KCAC.