Photo by Glenn Judah

Junior Jamie Allenbaugh had 17 points and 16 rebounds in the Lady Saints’ loss.

Will host SCAD and look to move onto Webber, as well as nationals in Iowa

By Melissa Bear

As the Lady Saints basketball team nears the end of a season that has been at times tough, their ultimate goal has remained the same since day one: to be playing in Iowa for the NAIA National Championship March 8-14.

The team has faced several obstacles this season. Playing the second half of the season without two of their key players, starting point guard Sarah Hately and starting center Melissa Anthony, has been a tough transition.

But circumstances have done nothing to shatter the confidence that coach Craig Douglass has in his team.

“We still have the talent to win our conference, and our team chemistry has been really great,” Douglass said.

Senior Caren Fiorillo’s role has been one of a vocal leader for the past two seasons, but she has especially taken on that role this season. One of her main goals has been to keep her teammates motivated throughout the season and to get them pumped up before games.
“Our team has really grown close and come together more,” Fiorillo said.

The second half of the season has brought the ladies some tough losses in some very close games.
The team’s record of 6-8 since the break has had several close losses, which could have very easily gone in their favor.

Douglass recognizes that junior forward Jamie Allenbaugh has shown great leadership this season and fits well into her position as captain. She has led the team in scoring and is also one of the top rebounders.

Much of Allenbaugh’s motivation comes from her outlook on the season. She looks at this year as her senior year, because it is the last chance that she and many of her teammates will have to participate in post-season play, due to the transition to NCAA Division II.

“It is kind of like the last time that I or everyone else has to be competitive in a conference. That should be a huge motivation for us,” she said.

Other key players for the Saints have been sophomore guard Brittney Garmon and Junior center Meaggen Anderson, each averaging over 10 points per game and nine rebounds.

Douglass feels that his key players are playing some of their best basketball at the right time in the season.

“They are all capable of making things happen in big games,” he said.

Going into their Feb. 11 game at home against Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the Lady Saints faced a must-win situation. Their 68-52 win over SCAD tied the team for third in the conference heading into their final two games.

The ladies extended their winning streak to three games, following a 77-64 win on the road against Warner Southern College, with Garmon leading the Lady Saints with nine rebounds and a career-high 28 points.

The team ended regular season play on Feb. 18 against an undefeated Webber International University.

At halftime the Lady Saints trailed by only four points, but the undefeated Lady Royals held them to a season-low 23.1 shooting percentage, winning the regular season conference title 53-41.

The Lady Saints finished the regular season with a record of 13-15, and 3-5 in the conference. The team, seeded No. 4, will host the number 5 seed SCAD on Feb. 21, playing for the chance to face Webber in the conference tournament.

The Florida Sun Conference tournament is Feb. 24 and 25 at Webber, and the Lady Saints basketball team has their sights set on bringing home the title and finishing their season in Iowa.

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