Elgin tops Saints to end 11-game skid
After watching an 11-point, third-quarter lead slip away during the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, Elgin girls basketball coach Angie Hudson figured she would see what her team was made of Friday night against St. Charles East.
What she saw was a young team that showed its poise down the stretch, as Elgin (4-15, 2-5) converted 9-of-12 free throws over the final 2:19 to pull out a 44-40 triumph over the host Saints (11-7, 3-2).
In the process, the Maroons put an end to their 11-game losing streak.
"This is the team that we've been preaching all year long that we could see and it finally showed," said Hudson. "Our girls finally played all four quarters today. We really haven't done that all year."
After freshman Kathleen Dailey's putback capped a 13-2 run that helped the Saints tie the game at 35-35 with 3:05 remaining, Caris Alan (13 points) and Kayla Jackson nailed 3 free throws apiece over the final 2:19 for the victorious Maroons.
"We've been struggling at the free-throw line the last few games," admitted Hudson. "But we finally stepped up and made them when they counted."
Senior center Ellen Holton, who led the Maroons with 14 points and 12 rebounds, wasn't completely surprised with her team's success at the foul line.
"We actually devoted an entire day to free throws last week in practice," said Holton. "It definitely paid off."
Holton played an instrumental role behind the Maroons' fast start, scoring 10 points during the game's first 4-plus minutes as the visitors grabbed an early 12-3 lead.
"We were on a big losing streak and we just wanted to show what we can do," said Holton. "Actually, watching the guys' game (a 49-45 win by Elgin) helped us get motivated. It's good to see them win and good to follow it with a win."
Meanwhile, St. Charles East struggled mightily throughout the first three quarters, making just 8-of-30 field-goal attempts (including 0-for-9 from beyond the 3-point arc) and 4-of-11 free throws while committing 16 turnovers.
"Give credit where credit is due," said Saints coach Lori Drumtra. "I thought Elgin came out ready to play and they took it to us. We were on our heels defensively for much of the first half."
The Saints began the fourth quarter with a flourish, as back-to-back 3-pointers from Lexi Baltes and Jaime Rust (14 points, 7 rebounds) ignited a 9-0 surge that pulled them within 2 at 33-31.
"We climbed our way back in it but we couldn't finish," said Drumtra, who admitted that her team might have been caught looking ahead to today's cross-town clash with St. Charles North.
"That could be. I think it's natural to look ahead - and you pay the price for it."