The Bulldogs’ season came to an end Wednesday night after a blowout defeat against Augustana. Augustana scored 50 points in both halves, and outscored UMD by 20 points in each half, defeating the Bulldogs 100-57 in the opening round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Wednesday night was the first time UMD allowed an opponent to score 100 points against them this season.
“I feel we went away from playing good, solid defense at a consistent level,” junior forward Taylor Meyer said.
Meyer’s statement highlights what UMD will need to see more of next season so they can have better outcomes when it counts.
UMD’s lack of defensive intensity was a factor in Augustana’s season-high point performance (100), shooting their highest field-goal percentage (55.8 percent) and winning by their largest margin of victory (43) Wednesday night.
The women’s basketball coaching staff feels that the experience their underclassmen got will be huge for next season. The team will lose four seniors but have 10 players returning that had a significant role this past season.
This season UMD had stretches in halves where the team wasn’t in sync either offensively or defensively, which led to the team being defeated early in the postseason.
“We need to work on being in shape and we also need to learn to practice at game speed, because every game is important. We can’t take a game off,” Meyer said.
Meyer will be a leader on the team next season and one of Coach Wiles’ seniors. She knows the younger players’ production will be key to next year’s success.
“It starts in our preparation everyday on and off the court, but on the court it starts on the defensive side of the ball,” Head Coach Annette Wiles said.
The team learned from the four seniors that will be graduating this spring.
The words of wisdom and encouragement from players like Danielle Flood and Jessica Newman will now have to come from another Bulldog as those players move on.
UMD players and coaching staff are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
Next year Coach Wiles will be returning a lot of experience, but the team will still be young with only two seniors on the team.
The women feel they played with effort and energy, but they also played up and down because energy levels went from high to low for long periods of time, which contributed to the team’s inconsistent play.
A winning season is something the ladies would like to put together after going 26-28 the last two seasons and finishing in the bottom half of the NSIC.
BY ROD BLOCKER
Statesman Correspondent