MT women’s basketball managed to get almost every athlete off the bench and into the game for their first exhibition game-and first game of the 2009-10 season-against Carson Newman.
The nationally recognized Lady Raider squad hosted a “sloppy” game in the Murphy Center last Monday, but still managed to come out on the good side of a 96-68 score to open up exhibition play.
All starters from the 2008-09 season returned strong in the exhibition game, including seniors forward Brandi Brown, guards Jackie Pickel and Chelsia Lymon and forward Alysha Clark. Juniors, like forward Emily Queen and guard Anne Marie Lanning are also back in action this season.
Five newcomers support the team this year, three of which saw action in the first 20 minutes. Freshman guards Kortni Jones and Icelyn Elie and forward Dymon Raynor gave their hands to the team in the first period, and Jones even lent an assist to a Clark layup at 6:49.
With Lymon out of the game due to fouls in the first, it was up to the newcomers to step in and make up for the former Top-20 stealer in the nation.
“I thought both [sophomore guard Tina Stewart and Jones] did real well,” said head coach Rick Insell. “Tina got up defensively and really caused some problems and that is what she has to do.
“Kortni Jones is like Chelsia was when she came in: not as quick and strong as Chelsia but sees the floor well and gets the ball to the shooters, and that is why we recruited her.”
The senior guard recognized her problems and worked to remedy them in the second half.
“I was too jumpy on defense and ran over a few people, but that is what happens when you have not played anyone for so long; you just get anxious,” Lymon said. “I told the referee in the second half that I was not going to touch anybody anymore and play defense with my hands behind my back.”
The Lady Raider defense started off the season strong, maintaining their abilities from last season by holding the Lady Eagles scoreless until 17:41 and forcing four turnovers in the first three minutes.
After Lymon was taken out of the game, Carson Newman took the opportunity to cut down on MT’s lead and trimmed the deficit down to 16 after an Ashley Kyle jumper at 1:09 capped the four-goal streak the Lady Eagles started late in the first.
After the break, MT increased its lead to 26 in the first five minutes. The lead didn’t drop below 26 for the rest of the game, and culminated in a 96-68 victory for MT.
Insell had mixed emotions about the exhibition.
“We were sloppy,” Insell said. “We did not execute our offense [well].
“We got out of position a lot defensively; we have to do a lot better than that. They knocked down some early threes and we fouled too much. I want to be aggressive but I want to have some controlled aggression. Tonight, even though we fouled too much, I was not disappointed with our aggression.”
MT will continue its exhibition slate with a 5:30 p.m. home game against Lincoln Memorial next Monday, Nov. 9. Regular season action will begin on Sunday, Nov. 15, when the Lady Raiders open up the Murphy Center to host Central Florida. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
Lady Raiders exhibit winning strategy
Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009
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