Providence goes deep but can't beat Hilltoppers
Glenbard West gave Providence the line. Providence took the line - but it couldn't win from back there.
Faced with defending 6-foot-1 UIC-signee Katie Hannemann, the Hilltoppers chose a zone defense packed inside the lane. Providence fired up its 3-point shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Hilltoppers, who opened Naperville North/Benet Holiday Tournament play with a 54-47 victory Thursday in Naperville.
"We wanted to take something away from them, and (Hannemann), she's a Division I player averaging over 20 points, we weren't going to let her beat us," Glenbard West coach Mike Hofland said. "She still got her points, but we had to give up something. Thank god some of their 3s rimmed in and out."
Hannemann scored 14 points and was the only Celtic to make a 2-point field goal.
"She was a good player, but coach said prior to the game we gotta get her, don't let her get inside," said Hilltoppers junior Abbie Hastings, who had the primary responsibility for defending Hannemann. "My teammates had my back. She still scored enough and got her openings, but coach said she averages, like, 20 points a game, and she only got 14. We did pretty well against her."
The Celtics (5-7) made 11 of the 33 3-point shots they took. Katie Budz led the way with five 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 15 points. Brianne Vandenberg and Emily Persak each made three 3-pointers to complete the Providence scoring.
"We left the outside open a little too much, but then we started pressuring the ball a little more in the second half of the game," Hastings said. "They were good outside shooters, I have to say. Next time we've got to watch that."
Glenbard West led 25-15 at halftime, but Providence forced the Hilltoppers out of their zone defense with its 3-point shooting. Still, Providence never could catch the Hilltoppers.
"We broke it to 3 (points) two times in the second half, and they handled it," Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said of the Glenbard West lead. "They showed their leadership."
Kathryn Lux led Glenbard West (9-4) with 12 points, Hastings and Abbey White each added 11, and Cayla Herbst scored 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
White did all her scoring in the second half, though she tried to convince Hofland at halftime she shouldn't play.
"She was sick," Hofland said. "She said at halftime, 'Coach, I don't think I should go in, I'm not helping the team.' That's just because she wasn't scoring. But she's a great all-around player for us, and she fought through it today."