MN Stars Shootout: Lynx/Starzz

#4 posting 9.30.2006
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MN STARS SHOOTOUT
Lynx 84, Starzz 74

This game had subplots: Maurika Carlisle's ongoing comeback after missing last winter and this summer; Theairra Taylor vs Ebony Black new teammates at St. Paul Central; youngsters thrown into the fire.

The game started off with the Lynx scoring at the wrong basket, but I believe the points weren't given to the Starzz. The Lynx put some distance between themselves and the Starzz with scoring on 5 of 6 possessions on an 11-2 run. They added another 8-0 run with four straight possessions later. Tanya Kaufmann had two consecutive scores from the right and left corners. The Lynx built their lead up to 30-18 during the half. The Starzz were able to shave two off that and the game hung around the 10 point mark for the rest of the half 47-37 Lynx. Carlisle's prognosis at the half: the knee is fine as she racked up 11 points.

The Lynx also had runs in the second half. They scored four straight times early in the half on an 8-0 run. Kaufmann again had four points during the episode. The Starzz were able to get back into the game, but the clock was running out their chances. On the Starzz last 15 possessions they scored 10 times with a 19-10 run. Tara Heiser had 13 in the second half for the Starzz with Ebony Black cashing in 11.

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

LYNX
Maurika Carlisle, Mpls North 14, 15, 93.3, .400 back from knee injury. moves well. quick, floor general. RF: exposed ball at times,
Hannah Hylla, Albany 6, 6, 100.0, .500 scored of a put back. steady. RF: dribbled went it wasn't needed.
Sarina Baker, Hopkins, 10, 5, 200.0, 1.000 one of the youngsters playing up. and she wasn't out of place. In the summer she worked inside, so today I got to see her outside game. She delivered. She did her role right. keep her on the radar.
Theairra Taylor, St. Paul Central 10, 11, 90.9, .455 smoooooth. glides, flows. can get big air under her shoes. Was aggressive and seized opportunities.
Tanya Kaufmann, DeSoto, WI 15, 15, 100.0, .467 corner shooter, baseline drivers. Solid frame. crashes offensive boards. RF:foot speed.
Morgan VanRiper-Rose, Eden Prairie 2, 9, 22.2, .111 RF: too vertical on defense
Shelby Goble, Bigfork 8, 9, 88.9, .444 tough kid, fearless, ready to mix it up. RF small. Spin dribble not my favorite.
Gretta Hjelseth, Nevis 6, 8, 75.0, .375 can score off balance.
Whitney Trecker, New Prague 13, 10, 130.0, .700 picked up a lot of points due to fouls (7 points from fouls) . able to hit and still score.

STARZZ
Chari Lehnertz, Winona 4, 9, 44.4, .222 big post. RF: needs to make quicker decisions and get quicker feet.
Cayla Collison, Verndale 8, 9, 88.9, .444 boards.
Tara Heiser, Watertown, SD 21, 24, 87.5, .458 very aggressive (24 possessions) on offense. can get up & down the floor. RF: forced a lot of offense.
Devin Bowlin, Winona Cotter 9, 10, 90.0, .400 tough point guard. Got inside and boarded. good decisions. Actually helped her teammates look better. RF: elbow too far away from body sometimes on dribble.
Ebony Black, St. Paul Central 17, 15, 113.3, .600 played with more energy than I have seen in the recent past. tough off the dribble. Lefty. had some nifty passes when D collapsed on her.
Breanna Erickson, Simley 14, 13, 107.7, .538 perimeter player. moved well without the ball, nice cuts.
138 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Hannah Somers, Lawrence, KS 1, 4, 25.0, .250 has anticipation on defense.
193 0, 3, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Even though Ebony Black's team lost, I was impressed with her all around play on both ends. Many players were tempting.

BY THE NUMBERS
Lynx 84, 88, 95.5, .466
Starzz 74, 90, 82.2, .422
The Lynx were consistent throughout and had seven players at 90 pp100; while the Starzz had four.

Next up: the last game from the Stars event: the Miracles vs the Monarchs