UW women soaring with defense
Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, December 20, 2000
By JOHN SLEEPER
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – If the University of Washington women’s basketball team is forming an identity, it’s on defense.
In winning their past four games, the Huskies (5-2) have established a presence inside, something they lacked last season, and have made it difficult for their opponents to set up anything resembling an offense.
In their last two games, victories against Nebraska and St. Mary’s, the Huskies turned up the defensive pressure, allowing a combined 34 percent shooting from the field. They also forced 49 turnovers, 30 against St. Mary’s.
“Defense is what’s keeping us in there,” UW guard Megan Franza said.
Interior defense, has been especially impressive. Kellie O’Neill, LeAnn Sheets, Andrea Lalum, Carli Halpenny, Melissa Erickson and Cheryl Sorenson have formed a sort of tag team, taking turns bottling up opposing front lines.
“I think we’re doing a much better job of hanging in there and playing a lot more physical,” Sheets said. “I’m proud of our team in that aspect.”
Casey Leonhardt, Nebraska’s rugged, 6-foot-4 center, was held to nine points and six rebounds, well under her season averages.
Twin sisters Jerkisha and Jermisha Dosty, St. Mary’s dangerous post players, were held to roughly half their offensive production. The Huskies also forced them into 13 turnovers, nine by Jermisha Dosty.
“We were able to force them into taking some tough shots and a lot of travel calls,” UW coach June Daugherty said. “We wanted to make them put (the ball) down and crowd them, so they couldn’t just turn and make the easy move.”
Washington’s guards also are making life difficult for their counterparts. Daugherty favors man defense over the zone, and now, with Franza, Jill Pimley, Giuliana Mendiola and Sarah Duncan, the Huskies have the quickness to keep up, take charges and deny passing lanes, along with the strength to keep other guards from sneaking in for offensive boards.
And when Loree Payne returns from her stress fracture injury, possibly as soon as next week, Washington figures to be as deep at guard as any team in the Pacific-10 Conference.
At the defensive forefront is Pimley, long known for her eagerness to take charges.
“It’s not the points or the steals or the assists,” Daugherty said. “It’s her giving it up all the time. She sets screens to get her teammate open. She dives on the floor. She comes up with the big rebound. There have been five games this year where Jill has been in on some very crucial moments. Her leadership and hustle is something that’s very, very important to us.”
