PRESS CONTACT:
Irene Borak
Director of Public Relations
10775 N. St. Helen Road
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5000 ext. 242
ROSCOMMON – Kirtland’s women’s basketball squad executed a very pleasing 75-49 win over the Kats of Erie Community College (N.Y.) on Saturday, Dec. 3, in Roscommon. Pleasing because, from the first basket to the final buzzer, the game was dominated by the Lady Firebirds.
Both teams had short rosters – only seven players in uniform on each side – but it was the Firebirds’ bench that stepped up to the challenge with even Chelsey Williams, who is recovering from an ankle injury, getting some important minutes in the game.
Firebirds coach Teresa Stuck was visibly pleased with the depth and stamina of the short list of players she had available.
“We had a positive assist/turnover ratio tonight for the first time this season, with a season high 22 assists,” Stuck said. A good number of those assists can be chalked up to the unselfish play offered by two Kirtland starters, Emily Henion, a freshman from Frederic, and Rena Barnett, a freshman from LeRoy, who both managed to contribute significantly without scoring.
Henion notched 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 6 steals while offering no turnovers. Barnett added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
“As my point guards they did a great job of making sure everyone else was involved,” Stuck said. “We didn’t need them to score tonight as everyone else was hitting so they were true team players and contributed in many other ways.”
This improvement on offense is what Stuck has been hoping for.
“Not only are we turning the ball over less, but working the ball more and taking smarter shots,” she said. “We also continued to show that we are maturing as a team. With a 10-point lead coming out of the locker room at halftime, we never let up but increased our pressure.”
Lizz Stempki, a freshman from St. Ignace, led the Firebirds’ scoring column with 22 points and added 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Natalie Foster, (freshman, Houghton Lake) and Nadia Blake (freshman, Toronto) added 16 points a piece, with Foster also adding 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Meghan Bastian (sophomore, Hale) contributed 10 points to go with 4 boards. Emilee Bruner (sophomore, Mio) dropped in 6 points and Williams (freshman, Houghton Lake) rounded out the scoring with 5.
The win brought the Firebirds’ overall record to 4-4.
To catch the Lady Firebirds in action, fans need only take the trip to the CRAF Center in Roscommon where Kirtland plays host to Albion College on Thursday, Dec. 8, and Lake Michigan College on Saturday, Dec. 10. Game time is 7 p.m. Thursday, and 3 p.m. Saturday. Games are free.