Dateline: Roswell, Ga. – In homecoming action, the Lady Cougars played host to the Terriers of Lyndon Academy. Living up to their fierce reputation, the Terriers blitzed their way to a dominant first quarter where they managed to blank the home town team. Cottage got on the board in the second quarter, as senior Brandy Michelle Finnell scored under the basket with a Terrier center draped over Finnell’s shoulders. Knezek followed up a few possessions later with a short jumper, and Finnell converted a free throw. Despite the points, the Lady Cougars began the second half facing a formidable deficit. In the late third and fourth quarters, Cottage took advantage of the Terriers mounting foul situation to get to the foul line with frequency. Unfortunately cold shooting woes did not allow TCS to capitalize on these opportunities. The contest did provide some entertaining, and successful moments for Cottage. In the first frame, sophomore guard Alex Nebel inbounded with a one handed rocket that found a streaking Maria Knezek en route to the basket. The TCS Athletic Department plans on forwarding this tape to UGA’s Coach Kirby Smart, who may want to consider Nebel for a quarterback scholarship in the near future. Finnell, Emily Daugherty, and Tracy Li all demonstrated tenacity and hustle as they drew multiple fouls from inside the paint, and earned a number of trips to the foul line.
GAME NOTES
Finley Love, provided backup guard play in both the third and fourth quarters of play. Love did not hesitate to put the ball to the floor in order to attack the tenacious Lyndon defense. Analin Merchant and Maxine Moore both logged time on the perimeter, as well as some unaccustomed minutes in the post. Merchant managed to squeeze off a shot, while Moore ran the floor effectively.
Emily Daugherty again took on the sixth man role, while freshman Tracy Li saw significant time in the post for the second consecutive game. Daugherty threw herself into the paint with reckless abandon as she outfought her rivals for 8 rebounds (5 of them from the offensive glass). She scored 2 points, stole 3 balls, and also earned two separate trips to the foul line on the strength of cleaver post moves. An active Li also drew fouls while shooting on separate occasions, scoring a foul shot, while also pulling down 4 rebounds (2 on each end of the court). During late third quarter action, a stray elbow caught Li in the eye, forcing her removal from the match. After some ice and recovery time, Li insisted on returning to the hardwoods in the final quarter.
Post fixtures, and seniors starters, Julia Baumohl and Brandy Michelle Finnell both had their hands full against a talented frontcourt. Baumohl got into early foul trouble, but continued to respond with determination and animated play. She grabbed 5 rebounds, recorded a steal, and forced a couple of jump balls. Finnell matched Daugherty’s rebounding total with 5 offensive, and 3 defensive rebounds. She also converted on three points for the night, while also drawing a number of fouls with her activity in the high post.
The standby trio of Alex Nebel, Maria Knezek, and Natalie Yager again laced up their hightops to take on guard responsibilities. Nebel claimed 2 boards, forced two steals, and tantalized the crowd with a couple of close misses on three point daggers. Knezek led her team with 4 points, and also added 6 steals , and 2 rebounds. Yager snuck in from the perimeter to pluck away 7 rebounds, passed for an assist, and poked the ball away for 7 steals. She also earned 3 trips to the foul line.
