Redhawks' Lawrence plays it smart

Lisa Lawrence's value to the Naperville Central girls basketball team is as much about what she doesn't do as it is about what she does.

Lawrence doesn't make many mistakes, she doesn't take bad shots or commit unnecessary fouls, and she doesn't try to play beyond her capabilities.

On Thursday Lawrence, the 6-foot-3 senior center, also showed all the things she can do as she scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Redhawks to a 49-36 win over visiting Glenbard East.

"Lisa is a four-year varsity player," said Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum. "And there are things you learn by experience. You know what's expected of you, what you can do and what you can't do. She does a nice job around the basket and her teammates trust her. We get her the ball and she finishes well."

"I try to get open on offense, play big on defense and help my teammates out," said Lawrence, who also grabbed 7 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. "By playing smart I get to stay on the floor and I don't have to go to the bench with 3 fouls."

The Rams (5-5, 1-2) made a game of it in the first half, trailing 27-21, with Kelsey Taylor leading the way with 10 of her team-high 16 points.

But the Redhawks' trapping defense denied Taylor the ball after the intermission and held her to a pair of 3-pointers as they dared her teammates to step up on offense.

"Once we got to isolate Kelsey and her teammates couldn't get her the ball, it shut down their team," said Naperville Central guard Kelley Hendrick.

The Redhawks opened the lead to 36-27 at the end of three quarters and continued to go to Lawrence, who scored 9 points in the final period as they increased the margin to double digits.

"We just stepped up the intensity and that helped in the second half," Lawrence said.

Lawrence also helped the team at the free-throw line, hitting 6 of 8.

"Lisa is a great free-throw shooter, and that's an asset for someone who plays down low," said Glenbard East coach Nicole Miller. "She's also an inside presence and a tough player to guard."

Though Nussbaum was happier with his team's performance later in the game, he sees the Redhawks (9-2, 3-0) improving every time out.

"We work really hard as a team," Nussbaum said. "And there are no egos. We play like a team. The girls don't care who scores points, just so long as the Redhawks get more than the other team."

Claire Fleming came off the bench and contributed 11 points, while Hendrick came up with 5 steals and Jessica Carter was the leading rebounder with 8.

"They had composure and ran their offensive sets," Miller said. "In the second half they outrebounded us and looked inside more."

Taylor also had 4 steals and Elizabeth Erb led the Rams rebounders with 7.