December 17, 2015

Delta Wins in OT

Avenges earlier loss to MMCC

Box Score

Mt Pleasant, MI – The Delta women faced off against #9 Mid-Michigan Community College on Thursday, a team that had defeated them by 10 points earlier in the season.  Back then, Delta hadn't really discovered what type of team it wanted to be yet – especially on the defensive side of things.

 "As a team we are looking much better on the defensive end and that's what's helping us coming up with victories down the stretch," said Head Coach Kelly Miller after Wednesday's road victory over Jackson Community College.  "The last two nights we've played with high energy on the offensive and defensive ends."

Although it wasn't easy, the defense came through for DC this time in a 93-87 overtime thriller that upped the Pioneer record to 6-4 on the season and avenged that earlier season loss.   After winning eight straight to get to that #9 ranking, Mid-Michigan has now dropped two in a row to fall to 11-3 on the year.

DC jumped out to a five point lead after one quarter, 24-19 thanks in large part to sophomore Jayde Abenth.  She was the go-to player for the DC offense early on as they built a lead but then got in to foul trouble and had to take a seat.  Mid-Michigan then outscored Delta 23-14 and took a 42-38 lead into halftime.

A back-and-forth scoring battle took place in the third quarter as the Lakers were able to extend their lead heading into the fourth quarter up 59-52.  Abenth once again took over, however and proved what a tough match-up she can be for opponents.  She would end the night with 25 points and 11 boards.

Just as they had the night before, Delta was able to pull even with Mid-Michigan in the fourth by hitting key free throws in the clutch and push the game into overtime.  Kenisha Newsom helped lead the charge in the overtime as Delta went up by six early and iced the game from there. 
 
"Kenisha stepped up and showed great heart and leadership in the midst of competition," said Coach Miller.  "That makes us feel pretty good heading in to our last non-conference game in preparation for the conference season."
 
Newsom poured in 23 points to go along with three assists and three steals.  Along with Abenth, three other Pioneers scored in double digits as Ashley Lee scored 16 point and had 6 boards, Nyashia Williams had 13 points, five assists and 3 steals and Jenna Szostak added 12 points and four rebounds.
 
"We were down key players with foul trouble and we still fought back to pull off the victory," said Miller.
 
And free throw shooting wasn't lost on Coach Miller this game, just as it wasn't forgotten about the night before.  The Pioneers went 33 of 43 from the line, good for 77 percent.  In the last two games, they have shot 51 of 66 from the charity stripe.
 
"That's back-to-back nights where we had multiple players step up at the regulation and overtime from the line to help us pull away with the win."

Delta next plays Saturday as they travel to Benton Harbor to take on the Red Hawks of Lake Michigan Community College.  The first conference game is scheduled for Monday, January 4th at Macomb.