Eagles hunt for tournament berth
The Chadron State women’s basketball team traveled to Denver this past weekend for the last away games of the season. Despite heading in to the mile high city with seven wins out of the previous nine games, CSC returned home with defeats at the hands of both Colorado teams. But don’t count them out: the Eagles remain firm in their resolve with three games left in the season.
Metropolitan State College, ranked eighth in the nation by the WBCA poll, secured a narrow win against CSC in the Auraria Event Center on Friday night, with the final score set at 55-51. The Eagles fell just short of avenging the 71-43 defeat to the Roadrunners at home in December.
CSC Head Coach Tim Connealy was nonetheless impressed with his players’ turnaround. From the scoreless first eight minutes of play, to the blazing comeback runs made in the second half, the shift of momentum kept the Eagles playing with urgency. Chadron State closed the gap to four points during the closing minutes of play, but their hopes were dashed by a last second free-throw landed by Metro’s junior guard Brandi Valencia of Moriarty, N.M.
On Saturday night in the Regis University Field House, Regis dominated CSC in the paint with both points and rebounds, leaving the court with a final score of 81-72.
The defeat delivered by the Eagles at home in early season play served as the motivation for the Rangers and their head coach, Linda Raunig, to defend their home court. Coach Connealy attested that while the game in December was evenly matched, the game on Saturday revealed that Raunig held a few of her players in reserve, which sent him scrambling to change the scenario to match defensively.
Heading in to the home games against UC Colorado Springs and CSU Pueblo this weekend, Connealy is relying on the same momentum and intensity that has driven the team to their return since Jan. 7th. Connealy is also counting on leadership from his fiercely competitive seniors Kaitlin Petri, hailing from Kearney, and Kada Williams, of Green River, Wyo.
“We still have the possibility for post-season play” Connealy said, “If we can make it through this weekend with the two wins, then we will be set.”
Come out this weekend and support your Eagle Women’s Basketball team as they defend the Armstrong Gymnasium against UC Colorado Springs, Friday night at 6 p.m. and CSU Pueblo, Saturday night at 6 p.m.