Convincing his Allen Community College players they’re a quality basketball team when they’re not hitting from the field has been one of Red Devil women’s head coach Mark James’ challenges thus far in the 2012-13 season.
On Tuesday, the Red Devils proved they’re a force to contend with even when the shots aren’t falling.
Allen received key contributions up and down its lineup, racing to a 20-point first-half lead against visiting North Central Missouri College in a 69-61 victory.
“We have so many weapons that we really don’t have what you would call a ‘best five’ from our starting lineup and we must play well for us to be successful,” James said. “We have a number of people who can step up for us, and tonight a bunch of them did.”
Iolan Kendra Taiclet, for example, got off to a blistering start, draining a pair of 3-pointers en route to eight points within the first four minutes.
Ebonie Jones picked up the baton shortly after Taiclet’s outburst with two 3-pointers of her own, the second of which gave Allen a 20-9 lead by the 13:30 mark.
The lead ballooned to 20 by the 8-minute mark before North Central Missouri found its offensive footing.
Samone Redditt keyed a 19-9 run that cut Allen’s lead to 40-30 at the break.
The Pirates would have been even closer were it not for Leslie Ware’s clutch 3-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes left as the shot clock was about to expire.
“It wasn’t Leslie’s best shooting game, but that sequence was huge for us,” James said.
North Central cut the gap to six, 42-36, early in the second half before Jones and Brittney Redmond stepped up for the Red Devils.
Jones sandwiched a pair of inside buckets around a pair of Day free throws to push the lead to 48-36.
Then Redmond dished out a pair of nifty assists, to Hannah Blackwell and Endesha Flanigan, as the lead grew back to 15.
The Pirates never got within six points of the lead down the stretch, courtesy of Allen’s 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.
The 5-foot, 3-inch Jones led a balanced scoring effort with 14 points and six rebounds, many of her points coming inside.
“Both Ebonie and Leslie are only 5-3, but we’re of the opinion that height has nothing to do with getting rebounds,” James said. “They work their tails off to get open inside.”
Day finished with 11 points, Ware with 10 and Taiclet and Blackwell eight apiece.
“Kendra’s quick start was almost a carbon copy of our earlier game with these guys,” James said. “We needed a spark offensively, and she stepped up big time.”
Miracle Davis had seven rebounds and two assists. Redmond had five boards and two assists.
Allen won despite hitting only 30 percent from the field, and 23 percent (7 of 30) from 3-point range. The Red Devils hit 18 of 23 free throws.
Kelsey Griffin’s 19 points led the Pirates. Redditt and Mysti Williams scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Allen (5-4) returns home Saturday to host Central Christian College. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.
North Central Missouri (30-31—61)
Allen (40-29—69)
North Central Mo. (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Griffin 3/2-7-1-19, Hewitt 0/1-0-3-3, Hope 0-3-2-3, Bennett 1-0-3-2, Goodwin 0-1-1-1, Hasting 1-0-0-2, Reddit 4/1-2-4-13, Williams 4-4-2-12, Rodenberg 3-0-4-6. TOTALS: 16/4-17-20-61.
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Jones 4/2-0-3-14, Davis 2-3-1-7, Morton 1-0-1-2, Day 1/1-6-2-11, Flanigan 1-0-1-2, Redmond 1-0-1-2, Peel 1/1-0-0-5, Taiclet 1/2-0-2-8, Ware 2/1-3-1-10, Seward 0-0-1-0, Blackwell 1-6-2-8, Hall 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 15/7-18-19-69.
Several step up for ACC women
