BELTON, Texas- After going 1-1 on the road to start conference play, the UMHB women’s basketball team returns to Belton, aiming to finish the week 3-1, with games against Louisiana College and Belhaven on tap. Hear from head coach Mark Morefield, take a look at our projected starting lineup, and preview both of the Cru’s contests in this week’s “Coach’s Clipboard”.
Quotes from head coach Mark Morefield:
On what he’d like to see his team improve on from the loss to UT Dallas last Thursday: “The bottom line is that we need to come out 3-1 by Saturday at 5 p.m. We got to be able to grow in a couple areas that we were deficient in a couple areas Thursday night; free-throw shooting and being ball strong. Both issues are issues that we control.”
On his team’s balanced scoring effort: “If you look at the last four years, we had three girls that really had to put the team on their back. If you look at our roster this year, we have players [averaging] six points, seven points, five points, this and this. You look at it, and you know they have the capability to score anytime they want. So who do you stop?”
On unknowns this season: “It is so crucial to keep it as normal as normal. We’re gong to prepare and keep it as normal as any other year, but when that time comes [where something is cancelled or a game is postponed] we’re going to adjust if we have to adjust. That’s the thing that keeps the players engaged, providing as much normalcy as possible. When the abnormal does pop up, coming up with a plan quickly and moving onto that plan quickly [is crucial]. Then there’s not that much time for those players to sit there and spin their wheels mentally.”
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG-Madison McCoy, Senior- 8.0 PPG, 1.0 APG, 0.5 RPG
G- Brooke Elliot, Senior- 5.9 PPG, 2.1 APG*, 3.6 RPG
G- Bethany McLeod, Junior- 6.0 PPG, 2.1 APG*, 2.3 RPG
F- Hannah Eggleston, Sophomore- 5.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 6.1 RPG
P- Taylor Kollmorgen, Graduate Student- 8.3 PPG*, 0.3 APG, 7.1 RPG*
*-Team High
About the opponent: Belhaven
Date: January 16
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Place: Belton, Texas (Mayborn Campus Center)
Watch: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umhb/
Notes:
- This will be Belhaven’s longest road trip of the season, as the Jackson, Mississippi university will travel over 490 miles to reach Belton. The Blazers will also face Concordia (TX) in Austin Thursday. The game was originially scheduled for 1 p.m. but “in order to help accomodate Belhaven’s travel plans” the start time was pushed back to 3 p.m.
- 2-3 on the season, the Blazers’ two victories came against Birmingham Southern College just four days apart. In its conference opener last Thursday, Belhaven fell to Sul Ross State, 64-58.
- Mariah Collins will be the player UMHB needs to stop, as the 5’3 point guard averages 11.6 points and 5.8 assists per game.
This article has been updated to show that the scheduled game for Thursday against Louisiana College has been canceled due to Covid protocols in the Louisiana College program.
