Puzzle still in works for Lady Braves

By Joel Beachum
Staff Writer

Every jigsaw puzzle needs each piece to make it complete. It takes time to put together the puzzle to make the picture just right.

John Haskins, UNC-Pembroke first-year head women’s basketball coach, along with assistant Kapica Davis, continued to build during the off-season with a prominent inside-outside presence. The pieces are coming together through the 2005 season.

Through the first 11 games of the season, the Lady Braves (10-9, 2-6 PBC) were 8-3 including two important overtime wins in non-conference play over Pfeiffer and Tusculum, both on the road. Either center Danielle Richardson, or guard Lindsay Bartholf were the leading scorers in 17 out of the 19 total games and in nine out of the first 10. Both were named Peach Belt Conference Players of the Week during the season.

“We had a fairly favorable non-conference schedule. We were able to win a few close road games. That gave us some confidence. We have been very competitive in the league. Winning in this league is tough anytime,” Haskins said. “The lack of depth due to injury has hurt us in the conference.”

One of the important pieces of the puzzle has missed the last 10 contests, as Lauren Lingenfelter was injured. Two other players have been unable to see floor time due to recovery. Junior, 5-9 guard/forward Tasha Stotler and sophomore, 6-0 forward Mallory Wegmann have been out due to knee injuries. Stotler was an All-PBC player last season averaging 17.4 points per game. The 6-0 guard/forward played in the first nine games averaging 9.3 points per game. Lingenfelter had her first practice back on Monday and hopes to return by homecoming against the Ospreys.

“I’m looking forward to playing 100 percent. I think that we are doing well with everyone that we have,” Lingenfelter said. “We are not quite as deep, but the girls that are playing are doing well and giving their best.”

Bartholf has been sizzling from the field through 19 games ranking in the top 15 in the nation in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage.

“We are pretty far into the season. We now understand how every play is important for us. We don’t have a lot of players, so we have to really do our best and remain focused every game,” Bartholf said about the team. “We have proven to the conference that we can go out and compete with everyone.”

With homecoming approaching on Saturday, expect to see some high-tempo offense, as UNCP is 7-2 at the Jones Center. They hold the No. 13 ranking nationally in baskets behind the three-point mark. Tracey Lightfoot, a 5-4 guard, has been the floor general, along with Victoria Willis and Kristin Vaughan, both at guard.

Defensively, they hold a top-notch spot as the nation’s best field-goal percentage, according to UNCP Sports Information. The Lady Braves opposition is shooting just 31.9 percent on the season.

“It’s going to be exciting to have a big crowd (at homecoming). Who wouldn’t look forward to a big game? This is going to be a really big game for us to get the win, but we look forward to every game. We are going to try to work together as a team to pull off the win,” said Richardson.