Out & About: Mpls Lady Lakers/Purple Aces

#3 posting 7.31.2006
your daily dose of girls basketball

this game took place in the sweltering gyms at Bloomington Kennedy
North Tartan Meltdown
Red Bracket Sweet 16 game

Minneapolis Lady Lakers 67, Purple Aces 54

Talisha Barlow racked up 32 points as MLL had a roller coaster win over the Purple Aces. The Purple Aces are out of NE Wisconsin around the Green Bay area. Some of the players were from the state championship team Ashwaubenon.

Even at 9 am the gym was miserable. It was especially miserable for the Aces as they started the game with 11 possessions without a score, and didn't score a field goal until their 21st possession. They started out with 6 turnovers in their first 7 possessions as the press devoured them. . They were buried 28-2 at one point. MLL was as hot as the Aces were cold as they scored on 9 straigt possessions. Barlow had 10 during that outburst. But just as hot as MLL was they turned ice cold in a 10 possession drought of their own. There lead wasn't really in danger, but the Aces 15-0 run of their own. At half time MLL was only ahead by single digits 32-23.

With the Purple Aces first basket in the second half they were down 7. MLL awoke from their offensive stupor and rattled off 6/7 scoring possessions to be more comfortable at 47-28. They would eventually go up 51-28. MLL cashed in three 3s in the flury. It was a 19-3 run for the Lakers. The Aces were 1/9 during the stretch. The Aces had one last push in them as they scored on 8/9 possessions including the last 7 in a row. Sierra Spaude started the streak off with 8 straight points. The Aces outscored the Lakers 15-6, but time was slipping away. The Lakers were the only team to convert in the last 7 possessions of the game.

NUMBERS EXPLAINED
player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %

MINNEAPOLIS LADY LAKERS
STARTERS
AunDreah Aune, Minneapolis Roosevelt 5, 8, 62.5, .250 3 shooter.
Melanie Wigen, Bloomington Kennedy 5, 7, 71.4, .286 main point guard. good foot speed. RF: some passes ankle high.
Talisha Barlow, Roseville 32, 23, 139.1, .652 produced like a woman among girls. in the paint, behind the arc, transition, rebounds, drives, pull up jumpers it was all in the arsenal. can float for hang time. Defensively stripped kids on the press for 2. played with a fierce determination.
Kiara Strickland, Minneapolis Roosevelt 8, 15, 53.3, .267 nice cut. lefty, has plenty of tools. runs the floor very well. jumps very well. RF: was careless or not aware (maybe it was the heat) as she threw away some outlets after rebounding. needs to work on the right hand. Hasn't produced like she is capable of.
Jenny Ostrom, St. Anthony 5, 5, 100.0, .400 worked the back end of the press for many interceptions. RF: needs to square up and stay on balance on her shots.
BENCH
Chelsia Hooker, Park Center 8, 6, 133.3, .667 hard working nuts and bolts kind of kid to give starters a little breather. Plays without fear.
Kim Grant, Minneapolis Roosevelt 4, 5, 80.0, .400 big post, physical. RF: tried to dribble with many hands in the way in the lane. exposes the ball.
Elissa Hendersen, Minnapolis Roosevelt 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Tyesha Wright, Minneapolis Roosevelt 0, 1, 0.0, .000

PURPLE ACES
STARTERS
Sierra Spaude, Sturgeon Bay 17, 14, 121.4, .571 had all 17 in the second half. has stick to itiveness. very active defensively and that payed off in transition baskets. good anticipation/awareness. scored 3 times in a row this way. has 3 range. can elevate.
Stephanie Bundy, Green Bay East 8, 8, 100.0, .375 point guard. drained a couple of 3s.
Erin Baganz, Ashwaubenon 2, 11, 18.2, .091
Erin Riutta, Ashwaubenon 11, 8, 137.5, .750 was able to get to the line often. RF: left the game due to physical contact to the head.
Tricia Van Vreeede, Kimberly 4, 8, 50.0, .250 decent hight, looked to shoot outside.
BENCH
Kelly DeCaster, Ashwaubenon 3, 6, 50.0, .167
Smurwara? 8, 12, 66.7, .333 shot on the outside.

TRENCH PLAYER
Talisha Barlow

BY THE NUMBERS
Mpls Lady Lakers 67, 71, 94.4, .437
Purple Aces 54. 69, 78.3, .377

This was the best performance by far that I have seen for the Lakers. Their pp100 best before this game was 66.7 against Dakota Hardwood Threat last weekend in the Adidas Mid America Semifinals that is an improvement of 27.7. It also was their tops in floor %. The defense also lowered its marks. The Laker press wrecked havoc on the Aces early. That momentum carried them through.

Next up: later with the North Tartan Blue/Kansas City Keys game. then later tonight from the Chisago Lakes Summer League.