Lady Wolverines take down Trojans for 50-39 win

The Lady Wolverines hosted the Lady Trojans from Nampa Christian High School prior to the Thanksgiving hiatus, and with a large contingent of Wolverine fans in attendance, the Lady Wolverines were able to get into the win column for the first time this season.

 The fast-paced play and the full-court press employed this season by head coach Nick Reed came to fruition and worked well against the Trojans, resulting in numerous turnovers and limited the Trojans ability to shoot from inside the paint and kept the Trojan shooters outside the arc.  

 The Trojans shot a mere 5 for 22 (23 percent) from three-point land and only 25 percent from inside.

 The Lady Wolverines got on the scoreboard first with a lay-up by Andrea Bouvia, but the Trojans countered with a put back off a missed free throw. Maddie Erickson stole the ball for a lay-up and Sara Lundberg fed Maddie Erickson for the long ball inbounds cherry picker to take the lead 6-2.  

 A bit of defensive chaos allowed the Trojans a jumper from the top of the key, but a steal and another lay-in by Bouvia kept the Wolverines in the lead.  

 With 2:32 left in the first quarter, the Trojans were able to pounce on some defensive confusion by the Wolverines and pulled even at 8-8, but a steal by Marissa Moyle resulted in a Trojan foul, which allowed Moyle to give the Wolverines a 9-8 lead again.  

 Lundberg added a bucket, but a long three by the Trojans in the waning seconds tied the game at 11-11.

 Nampa Christian drained a 3-pointer in the first 25 seconds of the second quarter and another 3 points before the Wolverines hit their first field goal of the quarter at the 3:44 mark by Bouvia.  

 The Trojans were able to hit a pair of free throws to stay ahead of the Wolverines 19-14, but the Wolverines finally began to get back in the groove and slowly chip away at the deficit. 

 A steal and lay-up by Madison Phillips and a free throw by Moyle pulled the Wolverines within three at 17-20, but a series of unnecessary fouls kept putting the Trojans on the line for freebies.  

 The press worked again, allowing Erickson a steal and a lay-up, followed by a trio of free throws to tie the game 22-22 at halftime.

 Another early three by the Trojans put them in the lead again, but Phillips found the mark with a three of her own to tie the game 25-25 midway through the third quarter.  

 The Wolverine defense was working hard and keeping the Trojans out of the paint, but the hot shooting from behind the arc kept the Trojans alive. Erickson added a put back, while Macy Moore drained a three and Bouvia got another steal and a lay-in. 

 The game was tied up 33-33 in the final seconds of the third quarter when Moyle threw up a half-court shot at the buzzer and made it to take a 36-33 lead.

 Energized by the long ball shot, the Wolverines stepped up their defense in the final quarter and allowed the Trojans only eight points. Meanwhile, 5-points from Erickson, a three-pointer from Moyle and six free throws from Lundberg, Bouvia and Shirts capped the win 50-39.

 Maddie Erickson led the Wolverines with 16 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Andrea Bouvia with 10 points and 6 rebounds.  Marissa Moyle was close behind with 9 points and 6 rebounds, and Sara Lundberg and Madison Phillips each had 5 points and 8 and 3 rebounds, respectively. Macy Moore added 3 points and 2 rebounds and Abbey Shirts had 2 points and 6 rebounds.

 The Lady Wolverines will be on the road this week. Friday they will be in Ontario and Saturday they will take on the New Plymouth Pilgrims.