Sports Editor
The women's basketball team started out its 1995-96 season with an exhibition loss to Athletes in Action Monday night, 64-51.
The Deacon offense was on cold for the evening, shooting just 31 percent from the field. This included a two-of-11 performance from behind the three point arc, as well as a 48 percent free-throw effort on the evening.
Junior Tracy Connor led the Deacons in scoring with 10 points while grabbing seven rounds and blocking three shots. However, despite this solid performance in 24 minutes of play, Connor shot just two-of nine from the charity stripe.
No other Demon Deacon reached double digits in points, as sophomore Crystal Carpenter was the second-leading scorer for the Deacons with seven points.
However, Head Coach Karen Freeman spread the wealth, as all of the 13 Deacons got playing time in the game. Junior RaeAnna Mulholland lead the team in rebounds with eight, although she only scored two points on the night. Senior Gretchen Hollifield led all players with five assists.
The game was a close one throughout the entire first half. The Deacons went up 6-0 to start the game, and led by as many as five points with 12:39 to go in the period. The game was back and forth after that until with 1:20 remaining in the half, Athletes in Action scored seven unanswered points. Felisha Edwards hit a three to break a 25-25 tie, and seconds later she converted on two foul shots. Carla Sterk hit a 14-foot baseline shot to put Athletes in Action up by seven before Deacon Hollifield scored on a layup with one second remaining in the first half to cut the Deacon deficit to 32-27.
The Deacons did not recover from their defensive lapse in the second half, nor could they score points. Half of the final period passed before the Deacons could muster more than three points. With 7:10 to go in the game, the Deacons were down by an astounding 25 points, 61-36.
For the remainder of the game, the Deacons woke up and attempted a comeback. However, there was not enough time left. The Deacons went on a 15-3 scoring run to end the game strong, but still lost by 13 points. Their 10 points in just two minutes were just not enough to compensate for their earlier lapses.
The Deacons will get back on the court for their final exhibition Sunday against the Hungarian Team at 2 p.m. at Joel Coliseum.