Poor foul shooting dooms Flagler women

Sports Writer
Published Sunday, February 11, 2001

Justin Barneystaff biosend email

The Flagler College women's basketball team had conference-leading Nova Southeastern on the ropes.

It peppered the top squad with long-range shots from beyond the arc, jumpers and twisting layups, too. From nearly every line on the court, the Saints dominated. All except one -- the foul line.

Despite 25 points from Jesse Miller and 19 from Mary Pinkowski, Flagler couldn't overcome free-throw shooting woes in an 88-78 overtime loss to visiting Nova.

''We didn't lose because of any individual; it was just because we didn't hit our free throws,'' Flagler coach Chanita Olds said. ''Free throws will win or lose a game, and today it lost it for us.''

After watching a nine-point lead evaporate amidst a slew of turnovers late in the second half, the Saints (13-10, 2-6 Florida Sun Conference) had to fight just to keep pace. Up 71-68 with 1:49 to play, the Knights' Meghanne Hickey knotted the game on a fadeaway 3-pointer. Miller responded with a driving left-handed hook in the paint, but Flagler couldn't hold the lead.

With 5.9 seconds remaining in regulation, Tahaji Felder (20 points) took the inbounds pass, slashed to the basket and put up an awkward shot in a sea of Saints' jerseys that somehow managed to fall.

''With a good team like Nova, you can't go into overtime against them,'' Olds said. ''When you have a good team on the ropes, you've got to stick it to them.''

The Saints had it stuck to them in the extra frame.

After Sarah Smith (nine points) buried a trey near the Flagler bench, the Saints imploded. They missed four consecutive shots and had turnovers converted into points on the opposite end of the floor. A putback by Amy Richmond with 1:29 left ended the Flagler drought and whittled the deficit to 81-78, but that's where the comeback stalled.

The Knights (12-12, 5-2 FSC) spent the remainder of the game at the free-throw line, hitting 7 of 9 to preserve the victory and retain sole possession of the top spot in the conference.

''This was a team we know we can beat, but in the crucial moments, they hit their shots,'' Olds said. ''We didn't capitalize on our free-throw or foul situations.''

Whereas Nova was nearly flawless from the line late in the game, the Saints tasted iron frequently. They managed to hit only 3 of 8 free throws after intermission and finished the game 8 of 18.

Outside of Miller's 43-minute, nine-rebound performance, three other Flagler players posted memorable outings.

Pinkowski, who finished with 19 points, was 3 for 8 from beyond the arc, including a pair of long-range bombs early in the second half that helped Flagler push its lead to nine points, its largest of the game. Lisa Schlichtman had a solid showing, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Richmond added 12 points and seven rebounds.