Saints struggle to
find wins

By PETER HILLS

The women’s basketball team is still without a league win following Wednesday’s loss against Linn-Benton 65-46.

“We’re a better team, but we sucked last night,” said coach Larry Davis.

Guard Tara Prow put up 17 points and forward Tristen Naylor grabbed seven rebounds.

Davis said that they need to work on being more consistent and getting rebounds.

“First half we did fine. The execution was a lot better than it was in the second. We started rushing shots and we didn’t have our hearts in the game,” said Davis.

A trend with the team is that they will play fine in the first half, and then things will go downhill in the second.

“If we could put two halves together, play all 40 minutes, we would be a very good team, but the thing is everybody has to realize that this is a young, inexperienced team. We have all freshmen on here we have to get that talent and confidence to where it needs to be,” said Davis.

Last Saturday’s 85-43 defeat against Lane is only further example of this trend.

“Same story. Good in the first, not so good in second,” said Davis.

Davis plans on having the team more experienced and put together for next season.

“This will be our core unit of women for next year. Roles will change, but as for leadership and providing that experience that we need, we will have six or seven sophomores, and that’ll be huge next year,” said Davis. “Next year is going to be a difference maker, these teams that come in here and gloat and think that Mt. Hood basketball is what it was last year, then they have another thing coming.”

“We’ve seen a significant change in all our players since the beginning of the season,” said Davis.

The main goal is to have fun, according to Davis, “If they’re having a positive experience to take something away from, that’s what really counts.

They will take on Umpqua.

“Umpqua is probably going to be the most difficult match for them because they have a great inside, outside game. They have four girls over 6’. There’s not going to be any excuses for our players hanging their heads or anything. We are going to go in there and expect to go out ‘victorious,’ whether it’s win or lose,” said Davis.