UTTC Get Complete Team Effort in Victory Over BSC
Balanced scoring from four UTTC players propel Thunderbirds over Bismarck State College.
Mike Kraft, Bismarck Tribune
United Tribes women's basketball coach Kelsey Peltier wanted to see her team play a complete 40-minute game following a stretch of contests plagued by inconsistencies.
She got her wish on Monday, as the Thunderbirds were able to put together a balanced effort on the stat sheet and were rewarded with a 93-82 victory over Bismarck State College at the Armory to snap a three-game losing streak.
UTTC won the rebounding battle and well as the turnover battle, and shot 50 percent from the field, reducing the number of 3-point attempts and instead focusing on higher-percentage shots from inside. Four Thunderbirds finished in double figures, led by sophomore Myona Dauphinais with 24 points. Tyleigh Brady provided 20 points off the bench after being out of the lineup with a injury.
"It came down to the little things and the things we've been practicing," Brady said. "A lot of teamwork with sharing the ball, doing the things we haven't been doing. It showed tonight, especially with our box outs and our rebounds, and we definitely shared the ball."
The Thunderbirds assisted on 15 of the team's 37 field goals, with Brady providing four. Jenna Sanders led UTTC with five assists.
The Thunderbirds survived a barrage of 3-pointers from the Mystics throughout the course of the first half. BSC knocked down 12 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. Brynnlee Murdock sank seven of her game-high eight 3-pointers in the first half, as all but five of the Mystics' baskets came from behind the arc.
Despite yielding a 15-point advantage from distance, UTTC led 58-48 at halftime, closing the first 20 minutes on a 21-9 run.
The Thunderbirds connected on seven 3-pointers in the opening half and nine for the game, but attempted just 26 for the game. Peltier said that UTTC has had games earlier this season where they are attempting closer to 40 3-pointers.
"The last three games it just seemed like nothing was going right for us at the 3-point line and so we went back to the drawing board in practice and really emphasized not shooting 3s at practice," Peltier said. "Everything is getting to the rim. We're driving with the ball and going off screens and all the positional work with the bigs and the smalls and that everyone knows their role I think it really played well for us tonight."
The Mystics (1-9 overall, 1-5 Mon-Dak) put up 39 3-pointers, connecting on 36 percent. BSC head coach Thai Haggin wasn't bothered by the shot selection.
"I never tell them not to shoot because once you tell them not to shoot, then they don't shoot at all," Haggin said. "It's a confidence thing with me. I'm confident that they can shoot the ball. I'm not one of those coaches that tells them not to shoot."
The Thunderbirds (4-6, 3-4) used a 10-2 run out of the locker room to build a 68-50 advantage and led by as many as 19. Brady found her rhythm late in the third quarter, scoring her team's final nine points to give the Thunderbirds an 82-68 lead heading into the fourth.
"They got me open with really good screens," Brady said. "Them getting open and helping me out mentally, especially with our attitude, the way we were cheering each other on."
Following three quarters of offensive firepower from both teams, the fourth quarter turned more defensive. UTTC limited the Mystics to just three field goals in the final 10 minutes. Peltier pointed to winning the battle on the boards as a difference maker for the Thunderbirds.
"Rebounds -- that's the biggest thing -- the last three games we lost we lose the boards we lose the game so you have to make sure you're limiting the rebounds, especially offensive rebounds," Peltier said. "Being on the glass and having multiple people get above five rebounds was kind of the difference maker for us."
Brady, Jenna Sanders and Mallory Yankton all pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
BSC got as close as six points with 2:34 on a pair of free throws by Harys Beauchamp, but the Thunderbirds closed it out with a lay-up from Dauphinais and a 3-pointer from Brady. Dauphinais had three of her team's five fourth-quarter field goals.
"We always fight. I just think we can't dig ourselves such a hole and expect us to get out of it," Haggin said. "We do have to make some free throws and we're right in it. The girls always work hard. Tribes came out and played well. They hit shots. They got to the rim a little bit, so props to them for coming in and playing hard."
The Mystics had three players finish in double figures. Murdock recorded a game-high 28 points and Beauchamp and Piper Harris tallied 17 and 12 points, respectively.
The Thunderbirds compete in the John Thunder Hawk Classic at home against Sisseton Wahpeton College on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Mystics will look to end a 9-game skid when they host Lake Region State on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Armory.