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Quigley stuns undefeated SWMS
Sophomore center Erika Quigley nabs seventh consecutive double-double with 37 points and 10 rebounds as the Huskies win 94-78
By Ryan Atkins
Published:
Thursday, December 9, 2004
Media Credit: Sarah Flocchini
Sophomore Erika Quigley goes up for the basket against a Southwest Minnesota State University´s Meghan Nelson during a game Tuesday night at Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies beat the previously undefeated Mustangs 94-78. Quigley missed tying an individual single-game scoring record by one point.
Three weeks and a day into the 2004-05 basketball season, the SCSU's women basketball team finally had their home opener.
Sophomore Erika Quigley and the rest of the Huskies made the event well worth the wait.
Facing the undefeated Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs (7-0), SCSU began the game with a swarming defense that frustrated SWMS.
SCSU started the game by going to Quigley early and often as she scored the team's first eight points.
As the score stood at 10-6, SCSU began to pull away thanks to the shooting of sophomore Shannon Francis, who knocked down back-to- back three pointers giving SCSU a commanding 16-6 lead with 13:03 remaining in the opening half.
SCSU continued to go on mini point runs throughout the first half, playing great defense, that SCSU head coach Lori Ulferts said the team had not used the type of defense against Southwest Minnesota State before.
"We were very aggressive and tenacious at times," Ulferts said, "We frustrated them with a switching defense, which we have not used against them before."
The switching defense contributed to 17 first-half turnovers by the Mustangs. SCSU managed nine steals and four blocks in the first half. Three of the blocks were by Quigley.
Francis knew that if she got beat on defense that Quigley would be there to back her up.
"If I get beat, she'll block the shot. She's amazing. It is fun playing with her," Francis said.
SCSU controlled a 46-29 halftime advantage, which the Mustangs began to pick away at in the second-half on the heels of stellar shooting by Michelle Bruns. Kristin Hairston also chipped in with key baskets.
Hairston scored only two free throws in the first half, but during the spurt in which the Mustangs reduced SCSU's lead to 64-58, she continued to make key shots, finishing the evening with 12 points.
One player leading the Mustangs during the game was Bruns, shooting 14-23 from the field and scoring a career high 40 points.
As the lead dwindled to six points, SCSU went back to the inside presence feeding Quigley.
After letting up on other opponents throughout the season after taking commanding leads, Ulferts was happy to see the Huskies regain composure and pull out the victory.
"We have been letting up in a lot of games. It hurts when they hit those three-point shots," Ulferts said. "We were having some breakdowns on defense and you can not do that with good teams and expect to win."
Francis says the team decided that they were not going to allow another team to come back after being down big.
"It's all in our mentality. We were up 19 against Concordia. We pulled together and decided this not going to happen again," Francis said.
Ulferts was pleased to see Quigley step up and take control when the team needed her to.
"Quigley had one of hopefully many good nights to come. She has the green light to score," Ulferts said. "Now, her teammates are looking to get her the ball where she can score."
Francis was pleased to see her shot begin to fall after struggling much of the season, including a 1-10 performance against Minnesota State-Moorhead. Francis finished with 15 points on the night.
"I have been struggling with my shots. It was nice to put shots in tonight," said Francis referring to her 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including three first-half three pointers. "My poor shooting is all in my head. I have to have confidence. I have been really trying to help this team defensively."
Ulferts was very happy to see Francis begin to get her offensive stroke.
"She has been so tough on defense," Ulferts said. "It was nice to see her have a complete game."
Contributing heartily to the defensive ferocity were fellow starters April Carlson, Katie Huschle and Sascha Hansen.
The trio along with Quigley and Francis played a strong, swarming defense that kept the Mustangs unsure of what to do next. Carlson, had four steals on the night. Quigley and Hansen finished with three apiece.
Quigley also nabbed 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Hansen had 12 rebounds and Huschle contributed with six assists. Huschle and Carlson contributed big on the offensive end as well, scoring 12 and 10 points respectively.
Since the Mustangs entered Halenbeck Hall undefeated and having recently defeated three fellow NCC teams, the Huskies wanted to give the Mustangs their first loss of the season.
"We were really pumped about playing them and wanted to give them their first loss of the season," Quigley said. "When they were cutting down the lead, we were getting a little nervous. But, we got it together and pulled out the win."
As Quigley left the floor with 3:46 remaining and the game in control, with SCSU leading 85-62, she received an applause from the crowd of 1,100.
Ulferts was happy that the team was able to bring a victory during the first home game of the season.
"It's huge to play on the home court and nice to have a home game," Ulferts said.
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