Westmont's Carlson paces herself in win over ICCP
Anne Marie Carlson is accustomed to going fast. Friday night she slowed down just enough to defeat IC Catholic Prep at the ICCP Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Colorado State University track and field recruit led Westmont to a 32-30 victory in Elmhurst by making 6 of her 9 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter.
"At least for me it's always rough early in the season because of track season, I just run way too fast for my ball-handling skills," said Carlson, an aspiring heptathlete who competes in the 300-meter hurdles, 100 hurdles, 200 dash and triple jump for Westmont. "I'm just off balance."
Carlson kept her balance long enough to lead all scorers with 13 points, and the win was a satisfactory way to celebrate her 18th birthday.
"I didn't go to dinner because I had a basketball game tonight, but it was a good way to spend the night," Carlson said. "Especially getting the first win this early in the season."
Westmont started very quickly, taking a 10-0 lead before Claire Gibler's 8-foot baseline jumper gave the Knights (0-2) their first points of the game with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
"We knew going ahead that Westmont always plays a (2-3) zone, which makes you shoot from the outside," said first-year ICCP coach Kelsey James. "So if you're not good at it, it becomes a struggle. They executed their game plan very well."
Neither team shot well. Both made just 21 percent of their field-goal attempts.
The Knights bounced right back in the second quarter, using Gibler's basket as the start of an 11-0 run. They took the lead on Anjella Farmer's basket, holding the Sentinels (1-1) scoreless for nine minutes in the process.
Still, the Sentinels responded before the end of the second quarter to take a 19-16 halftime lead.
"Our defense, we're pretty athletic," Westmont coach Mike McCord said. "We're not great basketball players, but we're pretty athletic, and I think our athleticism helped us."
A Carlson free throw with 2:13 to play gave the Sentinels the lead for good at 28-27. Four more Carlson free throws opened a 32-27 lead.
"I just relied on all the practice I had and not focusing on my surroundings but my form," said Carlson, who finished 8 of 11 at the line. "At first it was a little rough. I got a little stressed. But once you get into a rhythm, you get relaxed. But I knew that was my way to contribute to the final score because I wasn't really having a shooting presence or a driving presence today, so I knew I had to show it at the line."
ICCP sophomore guard Sophie Zanoni narrowed the Westmont advantage with a 3-pointer with 37 seconds to go, and ICCP had a chance to tie when Westmont turned the ball over at midcourt with 7.0 second left. But Westmont sophomore Daphyne Turner blocked ICCP's last-second shot in the lane to preserve the win.
Amanda Prete added 11 points for Westmont, making three 3-point shots and a couple more fourth-quarter free throws.
Gibler led ICCP with 9 points, and Farmer finished with 7.
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