Following last weekend’s sweep against the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary basketball ladysaurs had all of the momentum heading into a weekend set with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. However, the ladysaurs failed to capitalize, being swept 65–58 and 84–77 at the Jack Simpson Gym Nov. 16 and 17.
While the first game was a cautious, defensive affair, the second meeting between the ladysaurs and Golden Bears featured a blown 15-point lead by the hometown team. With only six points scored in the final four minutes of the 84–77 loss, the Dinos felt the pressure at the worst possible juncture of the game.
Coach Shawnee Harle pulled no punches when giving an assessment of her team’s performance.
“Our veteran players need to step up and get it done,” she said. “They need to play to win rather than playing not to lose.”
A main source of frustration for Harle was the team’s lack of execution when it came to the fundamentals.
“We had the game won on both nights but I thought we beat ourselves down the stretch,” she said. “[The] lack of poise, lack of boxing out, and lack of execution on offence led to our downfall.”
For the reeling Dinos squad, a .500 record is not acceptable, especially in the eyes of their coach. Harle’s point of emphasis for the weekend’s games was the lack of poise and the inability to deal with the pressure of a big game. As Harle illustrated, the big games require big-time efforts from her players.
“Big games demand big plays and big players,” she said. “At crucial times at the end of the game, we had neither. However, once this team figures it out and finds a way to win a big game, I truly believe we will be unstoppable.”
While the mistakes appear to be fixable, the ladysaurs won’t have much time to lick their wounds before the next set of pivotal games, as their conference foes, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, are coming to town this weekend. As coach Harle suggests, the time is now for the Dinos to learn how to win. p up and get it done,” she said. “They need to play to win rather than playing not to lose.”
A main source of frustration for Harle was the team’s lack of execution when it came to the fundamentals.
“We had the game won on both nights but I thought we beat ourselves down the stretch,” she said. “[The] lack of poise, lack of boxing out, and lack of execution on offence led to our downfall.”
For the reeling Dinos squad, a .500 record is not acceptable, especially in the eyes of their coach. Harle’s point of emphasis for the weekend’s games was the lack of poise and the inability to deal with the pressure of a big game. As Harle illustrated, the big games require big-time efforts from her players.
“Big games demand big plays and big players,” she said. “At crucial times at the end of the game, we had neither. However, once this team figures it out and finds a way to win a big game, I truly believe we will be unstoppable.”