Barlow fuels fast start

With a 5-0 record coming into conference play, the SCSU women's basketball team is off to a hot start.

But Talisha Barlow was not surprised by the team's opening streak.

"We've been working so well together and we're very unselfish and supporting each other the entire time," she said.

After all, Barlow knows all about hot starts.

This season, the sophomore guard is leading the Huskies in scoring, averaging over 16 points in the five games. Last season as a freshman, Barlow started her college career with back-to-back 10 and 20 point games.

After being away from the basketball court in the summer, she is excited to get back out with her teammates.

"It's always exciting just being together with the teammates," she said. "Just working hard over the summer and conditioning and everything, you just want to display it on the court when the season starts."

Barlow's offensive ability has gained the attention of opposing defenses. Head coach Lori Fish has also taken notice.

"I think she's just so smooth with the basketball, she is able to create her own shot and most people aren't able to do that," Fish said. "Not only can she do that, but she can get her teammates open and get them involved because she draws that much attention when she gets the basketball."

On offense, Barlow is known for her ability to get past defenders and drive to the basket. The Roseville native stated that her game was influenced by her father Patrick and brother Tony.

She also cites Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady as a role model for her game.

"He's just so dominant on offense, getting to the hoop," she said.

In order to keep the offensive pace going into conference play, she will have to expand her offensive game to the outside. Fish believes Barlow is capable of doing that.

"She's taken her game to another level," Fish said. "She has really started to hit that outside shot which is what she's going to have to do. People are going to start playing the drive."

While the offense is what gets her name in the paper, Barlow has become just as effective on defense. Through five games, she has averaged two steals a game, including seven in the season opener against Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Coming into her second year at SCSU, Barlow believes having a better grasp of the game has helped her on defense.

"It's a mental aspect, just becoming smarter, knowing when to go for it, anticipation and having more confidence," she said.

Fish's defense-oriented schemes have also allowed the backcourt to excel at guarding.

"Because we do such a great job of ball pressure, it allows Katie [Tacheny] and Talisha to get into the passing lanes and get steals," Fish said. "They have that speed and quickness to get deflections because we apply so much ball pressure."

Barlow's production has come at a perfect time for SCSU, as the team is fighting the injury bug.

Guard Anna Cashman has missed a significant portion of the season with a back injury. Kaylan King will be out until January with a knee injury. Post player Rachel Booth, the team's top returning scorer has been bothered with knee and leg injuries.

Despite the injuries, Barlow and the rest of the team have done their part to compensate.

"I want to do whatever I can to pick up any kind of slack we have and I know everyone is going to be doing it too," Barlow said.

This weekend, the Huskies open their NSIC conference schedule, taking on Winona State on Friday and Upper Iowa on Saturday.

On Friday against the Warriors, who were ranked fourth in the NSIC preseason rankings, the Huskies will be looking to set the tempo early.

"We're going to come out with a strong start and a tough finish and just play hard, play together," Barlow said.

Despite being projected in last place in the preseason, Upper Iowa has started the season 3-1, including a 40-point performance by Andrea Downs in a 112-108 overtime win.

"I don't think anyone's had an answer for he, so we're going to have to contain her," Fish said.

"We're not going to underestimate them," Barlow said. "It's just like any other game, we'll play as hard as we can and give all our effort into it.