Ladies look for revenge at Cheyney

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Cheyney Wolves
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Cope Hall on the campus of Cheyney University

The Golden Bears head into Saturday’s matchup with Cheyney in need of a victory if they hope to qualify for the PSAC playoffs. KU is 4-6 in the division and currently trails East Stroudsburg by one-half game for the final playoff spot (See Playoff Picture).

The Golden Bears have won two of their last three games, but are coming off Wednesday’s 13 point loss to division-leading Millersville (9-0).

The Wolves have already clinched a postseason berth, meaning this season will mark their first trip to the playoffs since the 1989-90 season. Cheyney is 6-4 in the division and is playing for an opportunity to host a first round playoff game. The Wolves are coming off a game in which they were shellacked by West Chester 84-52.

These teams last met on Feb. 2, with Cheyney making an improbable comeback in the second half to upset KU by a score of 77-66. The Golden Bears led throughout that game, by double-digits at most points, but collapsed in the final minutes and scored just 2 points in the overtime period.

Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Cheyney:
F- # 15 – Angel Stephens
F- # 32 – Stephanie Orgi
F- # 21 – Lillian Penn
G- # 24 – Ashley Blake
G- # 20 – Danielle Jones

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears will enter this game looking to continue their gameplan of moving the ball all over creation until they find someone open for a shot. This offensive style has been successful as of late and has resulted in a conference leading 164 assists during divisional play.

The problem with KU’s offensive attack has been a lack of consistency. One player will step up and have a big couple of games and then disappear for the next few. If Coach Malouf can get consistent play from her core of talented athletes, KU can contend with anyone, even Millersville. Sure the Golden Bears were swept by the Marauders this season, but it was episodes of epic collapses during parts of those games that were the difference. At one point or another this season, KU has outplayed every divisional opponent.

Melissa McQuade was outstanding in the team’s first meeting with the Wolves. She had a double-double, scoring 14 points and hauling in 17 rebounds. Three other Golden Bears reached double digits, but KU turned the ball over a whopping 35 times.

The Golden Bears will look to McQuade, as well as, Mercedes Van Wagner to carry the load in this game. Both have been playing better and better as the season goes on and they will need to step up against a respectable front court.

In the last meeting, the three other double-digit scorers for KU were guards (Wisemiller, Melvin, Starr). If the Cheyney defense collapses on the KU frontcourt on Saturday, the guards will once again be relied on to hit jump shots.

As for the KU defense, they will be looking to their front court to shut down the efforts of forwards Angel Stephens (16 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting) and Stephanie Orgi (12 points, 8 rebounds). Meanwhile, the guards will have their hands full with Danielle Jones, who led all scorers with 18 points in the first meeting and leads Cheyney in scoring.

Prediction:
The Golden Bears had this game won in the last meeting, and there is no reason to doubt them this time around. This team has collapsed late in games on several occasions, but the one against Cheyney was the worst of them and unlikely to be repeated. As for the Wolves, they were on a roll, but they were just smoked by West Chester and you have to believe that experience will play a factor down the stretch. Cheyney is already in the playoffs and KU is more talented with more to play for. It will be tough on the road, but the Golden Bears will pull it out in the end.

Kutztown 67
Cheyney 61