Published in the Sanpete Messenger and the Snowdrift
Lady Badgers lose three games and two starters
By: Skyler Hardman
The Lady Badgers wrapped up an eight-game road trip with three straight losses, and to top it off, they return home missing two starters.
After jumping out to an early lead, Snow suffered injuries and a tough loss at Salt Lake Community 72-60, Saturday, Jan. 15.
“Everything was going great, and then Dani went down,” coach Cindy Lindsay said, referring to the center’s game-ending injury.
Early in the game it seemed as though Salt Lake didn’t have an answer for Lockhart. In just six minutes she pulled down three boards and scored 2 points.
A minute later after Lockhart’s injury, Alle Finch twisted her ankle. Finch finished the game but with obvious soreness. Slowed by the injury, she had trouble planting and cutting through traffic.
In the second half though, with a slowed Finch and a missing Lockhart, Haley Holmstead went off. She had a game-high 32 points, including eight free throws down the stretch.
Finch has a sprained ankle and hasn’t played since the loss. She’s questionable for this week’s games. Lockhart has once again torn her ACL and will be out for the season.
Snow then traveled to Southern Idaho on Thursday, Jan. 20, suffering their second loss of the season to the Golden Eagles 79-52.
Christina Augustin and Kelsi Wells filled the starting roles left vacant by Finch and Lockhart.
The change in line-up shifted Erica Martinez to starting point guard. Martinez led Snow, scoring 20. But they clearly missed the injured starters.
“We have to move on and get tough,” Lindsay said. “We were able to get some people—that normally didn’t play—some experience, and that’s going to help us in the long run.
“Right now it’s hurting. We’ve got a pretty big hill to climb but we can only do it step-by-step,” she added.
The wounded Badgers traveled to North Idaho and suffered a 103-55 loss Saturday, Jan. 22.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been beat that badly,” Lindsay said.
North Idaho was lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down 12 3-pointers. Snow made only one triple and shot just 37 percent from the field.
The Badgers are now in fifth place in the conference. Although down, they are not out.
“I’m so excited to be home; that road trip was brutal,” Lindsay said. “We’re excited to get back in front of our home crowd.”
The Badgers will be welcomed to the freshly re-painted Activity Center this weekend by their home crowd and two opponents they’ve already seen—Colorado Northwestern and Eastern Utah.
They beat Northwestern 64-43 and Eastern Utah 62-50. The games tip-off Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3:00 p.m.Lady Badgers start 3-1 in conference play
Dani Lockhart posted big numbers in just 17 minutes of play on Friday, Jan. 7, as Snow routed Eastern Utah 62-50.
Lockhart made good use of her time on the court as she shot six of eight from the field for 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.
She started the game, but after getting in foul trouble early she sat much of the first half. Early in the second, Lockhart suffered a blow to the head and did not return to the game.
Instead, she took a trip to the hospital and received a couple staples to her head, according to coach Cindy Lindsay. But Lockhart returned to play in the game against Northwestern Saturday, Jan. 8.
Guards Bailey Reynolds and Erica Martinez complemented Lockhart’s performance with impressive showings of their own—both scoring in double digits.
Reynolds scored all of hers in the first half, and Martinez scored hers in the second.
“They’re balancing each other out,” Lindsay said. “Teams are having a hard time figuring out how to stop both of them.”
After the win Friday Snow traveled 170 miles to play Northwestern Saturday afternoon and dominated with an out-of-the-normal defensive effort, winning 64-43.
The 43 points is the second fewest the Badgers have allowed this season.
“Kelsi Wells is really making a quiet difference,” Lindsay said. “Often she gets the tough defensive assignments, and she’ll get mismatched guarding someone taller than her and she’s playing really well.”
Everyone saw playing time for the Badgers on Saturday and Reynolds again led the scoring effort with 16 points.
Snow remains on the road until Jan. 28 and plays this Saturday at Salt Lake Community College. SLCC is led by the defending National Player of the Year, Haley Holmstead, who averages 26 points per game and adds to that a couple steals and 4.5 rebounds each outing.
“To be successful you have to be able to win on the road,” Lindsay said, adding that the Badgers have to hold their own against such a talented player. The pressure to guard Holmstead will be split between Reynolds, Wells and Alle Finch.
The winner of Saturday’s game will take possession of first place in the conference as each team moves a fourth of the way through the conference schedule.Snow women split games against 2 ranked teams
By: Skyler Hardman
EPHRAIM—Snow College women’s basketball started conference play at home with a split this weekend defeating No. 3 North Idaho before falling to No. 12 Southern Idaho.
The favored North Idaho team held Snow five points below their season average, but it wasn’t enough, as the Badgers pulled out a 79-76 victory.
Snow head coach Cindy Lindsay spoke of one huge difference-maker for the Badgers—Dani Lockhart, who had 21 rebounds.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a player pull down that many rebounds,” Lindsay said.
Lockhart not only grabbed 21 boards, 10 of them on offense, but she also scored five of seven from the field. The Snow players could smell an upset when they headed to the break up by 10 after Erica Martinez sank her third three-pointer at the buzzer.
Martinez ended the game with six treys and 26 points, staying on the court for the entire 40 minutes.
Less than 24 hours later Snow tipped off against another nationally ranked conference foe, the College of Southern Idaho.
The Badgers started the game rolling as they shot six of seven from beyond the arc and carried a four-point lead into intermission.
Snow even outrebounded Southern Idaho by a smidgeon, but it wasn’t enough to make up for 30 Badger turnovers.
Full-court pressure along with double teams and traps at the top of the key left Snow’s guards exposed.
“We have to have an answer to pressure,” Lindsay said. “It was really an individual game. I don’t feel like tonight was a success. Obviously we’ve got some things to work on.”
In the second half Southern Idaho shot 16 times more than Snow, carrying them to a 90-83 win.
Snow plays next in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Bill Culver Memorial Classic, which begins Dec. 29. Undefeated at tourney with buzzer beater
By: Skyler Hardman
EPHRAIM—Snow College women’s basketball came out of the Northwest College (Wyo.
In facing the All-Stars, head coach Cindy Lindsay went up against six former players. Lindsay was pleased with her team’s performance as they shot 73 percent from 3-point range.
“Alle (Finch) had a great game,” Said Lindsay. “She had 33 points which is a new personal best. She was able to cut to the basket, draw fouls and shoot well.”
Finch made 14 of 18 free throws and drained five 3-pointers. The scoring effort was assisted by Erica Martinez who went 4-4 from outside and scored 20 points.
The Badgers were confident heading into Saturday’s game against a Northwest team they had beat handily at home less than a month earlier.
By halftime it was apparent that Northwest wasn’t ready for another blowout; the score was knotted at 36 heading into the intermission.
During the second-half Northwest gained momentum and had a double digit lead with several minutes left.
After a lot of back and forth play Snow trailed by one with 30 seconds on the clock and Northwest had the ball. A defensive stand gave Snow possession with nine seconds left and 94 feet of floor to cover.
After a timeout where it was decided the final shot would go to Finch, Lindsay took another timeout, but the press wasn’t there and as the game clock showed 1 second Finch fired up a three point shot. The shot didn’t drop for the Badgers but a foul was called, giving Finch three free-throws with .7 seconds on the clock.
After she missed the first one Northwest called a timeout. The second one didn’t go for Finch either. By making the final free throw Finch could send the game to overtime.
The third one rimmed out and immediately Finch’s high school teammate, Dani Lockhart, was there. Lockhart got airborne and just before the final buzzer sounded her tip was enough to put the ball through the rim and give the Badgers the win.
“It was one of the most exciting wins I’ve been a part of,” said Lindsay. “I’ve had buzzer beaters but I’ve never had point seven on the clock.”
Lockhart told Lindsay afterwards that she just had a feeling it would come to her. With the win Snow finishes the preseason 12-2.
Conference play begins this weekend at home for the Badgers as they play North Idaho and the College of Southern Idaho.
10-2 Snow can’t beat Casper College
EPHRAIM—Snow College women’s basketball went 2-1 last week, losing for the second time to Casper College but bringing home wins against Western Wyoming and Mount Hood .
Jaquel Christensen led the Badgers to the 81-72 win against Western Wyoming Tuesday, Nov. 23.
Head coach Cindy Lindsay called the center’s performance her game yet. Christensen got herself a double-double, dropping 20 points and scraping in 10 boards.
The Badgers had a chance to avenge their earlier loss to Casper in tournament play Friday, Nov. 26, in Twin Falls , Idaho
Until Friday—when the Thunderbirds won handily 79-64.
“I think we had the attitude that we were going to be able to show up and have threes drop and get to the basket,” Lindsay said. “Our shots were off and defensively we couldn’t get a stop. It was a horrible game.”
The team didn’t bring near the intensity needed to compete with Casper
The Badgers were outshined in almost every category. They shot only 36.8 percent from the field and connected on only a devastating four of 26 from three-point range.
Now the Badgers are 10-0 against the world and 0-2 against the 6-4 Thunderbirds.
But Snow didn’t have much time to sulk. Saturday afternoon, Nov. 27, they had to tip-off against Mount Hood .
Lindsay said that before the game she wanted to fix what broke against Casper
“We talked about pride,” Lindsay said. “Hopefully we learned our lesson and never have to play like that again.”
The chat worked.
The Badgers came out on fire, blasting off to a 49-13 at halftime. And for the first time Snow switched up the starting line-up with 5’11” forward Dani Lockhart replacing 6’3” Christensen at center.
“I wanted to ensure that defensively we were quick, so I went with a guard in that post position,” Lindsay said. “Dani’s been playing really well.”
Lockhart was perfect from the field and even snagged nine boards in the 109-31 blowout.
Frosh guard Cassie Holmes came off the bench to knock down two three-pointers and scored in the double digits for the first time. She had 12 points in 17 minutes of play.
Snow is now 10-2 and has two tournament games at Northwestern Wyoming before beginning conference play at home against Snow frosh Wells scores double-double off bench in yawner
EPHRAIM—The Snow College women’s basketball team posted 89 points in a decisive home victory Saturday over the Utah Knights who were held to only 69.
Snow had an edge as the Knights, a club team made up of former college basketball players, brought only seven players while Snow had 13 play.
A highlight for Snow was the play of freshman substitute Kelsi Wells who scored double-double—11 rebounds and 19 points.
“Kelsi Wells came off the bench and played well,” Coach Cindy Lindsay said. “She was really big on the boards.
”Snow almost doubled the Knights on the boards with 50—17 of those on offense.
The Badgers didn’t come out of the gate with the intensity that Lindsay would like to see. In the first half they shot 42.4 percent from the field and made 7 of 9 free throws.
“I felt like we were a little sluggish in the first half,” Lindsay said.
But the Badgers moved more up-tempo in the second half, making 54.3 percent from the field and 10 for 11 on the foul line.
Alle Finch had 16 points and five assists. Finch has been wearing a knee brace throughout the season and still has a noticeable limp when not on the floor.
When asked about Finch’s knee Lindsay said, “It’s pretty good. She kind of tweaked it in practice on Wednesday. We have three games next week so we’re hoping she’ll be healthy.”
So far Finch has shown her leadership on the court and the stat sheet, averaging 16 points per game. She would be missed if she has to sit out.
On Saturday whenever Finch took a break Erica Marinez ran the offense. Marinez lit it up from outside, connecting on four three-pointers and shooting 59 percent from the field.
But Snow struggled on their turnover/assist ratio. While coming out of the bout with 14 assists, they gave up the ball 21 times.
The Badgers are one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, but they look ahead to some tough action. They travel this weekend to the College of Southern Idaho
Not only will they play a conference team in CSI, but they will get a rematch with Casper Casper
Those games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. By the week’s end Snow could improve their record to 11-1.
Lady Badgers off to hot start at 3-1 and 86 ppg
By Skyler Hardman
EPHRAIM—The Lady Badgers are back on the court this season and hoping to out-perform the nation’s fifth-best 81-points-per-game and 22-10 record from last year.
Snow comes back this season with only one returning starter, Alle Finch.
“And she didn’t start the whole year,” head coach Cindy Lindsay said. “Sophomores Alle Finch and Christina Augustin are the captains.”
Finch starts at point guard and is running the offense. In just two and a half games she has tallied 13 assists, 11 boards and 48 points.
“This year’s team is completely different than last year’s team,” Lindsay said. “Last year’s team was a little bit more vocal; this year’s team is on the quiet side. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not as intense. In fact, sometimes they are even more intense.”
Some of that intensity comes from redshirt freshman Dani Lockhart. She didn’t play last year after tearing her ACL in the season opener.
So far Lockhart has come off the bench to grab 7.75 rebounds a game. Lindsay said she is excited to see her back on the floor.
Not only has Snow out-rebounded three of their first four opponents, they have ended the same three games with more assists.
“I think I have the best guard line-up in the conference,” Lindsay said. “I’ve got some really good youth and a great guard in [Erica] Martinez. She’s just a prolific three-point shooter out of Judge Memorial.”
In four games Martinez has connected on 17 three-pointers, shooting 53 percent from beyond the arc.
Lindsay isn’t afraid to see her players cast up the three early and often. In the Badgers’ third game against East Idaho , Snow knocked down 9 of 19 from outside just in the first half.
The three-point shot will undoubtedly be a big part of Snow’s play this year. But even with high-percentage outside shooting topping last season’s 81 points a game won’t be easy.
“We might even be more so a scoring team this year,” Lindsay said.
And her players have already backed that up.
So far the team is averaging 86 points per game, and that despite a 71 against third-ranked Casper College
Snow led the game at half but Casper
Finch went down hard early in the game and didn’t play in the second half.
Lindsay says really likes the new players she has, but so far she has been putting mostly experienced players on the court. With four sophomores starting she’s not afraid to mix it up.
“I anticipate some changes. There have been some kids that have really stepped up,” she said. “I believe that you put the best team on the floor. Sometimes it might not be the best players but we’re going to put the best team on the court.”
Last year nine of Snow’s 10 losses came in conference play. The conference was so competitive that Snow had weeks when a win would have put them in first, but a loss would have dropped them to fourth.
Lindsay has her goals high.
Besides winning the conference, she said, “I want to go to nationals.
“I’ve been there as a coach; I’ve seen what it takes to get there.”
The Scenic West Athletic Conference will send only one team to nationals and that won’t be the winner of the conference, but the winner of the conference tournament.
“It’s getting the team to peak at the right time, that’s the key,” said Lindsay. “We want to build and improve ourselves daily.”
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Snow will host the Utah Knights. Conference play begins Dec. 10 as Snow hosts 