In Friday’s game, the Crusaders were stifled on offense as they managed to score one basket in the first quarter. In spite of the offensive struggle, the Crusaders played their best conference game of the season, limiting Schreiner to 35 percent shooting, winning the turnover battle 17-13 and even winning the 4th quarter 12-9. While Dallas held their opponent to 50 points or less for the second time this season, UD ultimately lost the game 50-36.
“Every competition is about us and what we can control,” Head Coach Lacey Burns said. “We made in-game goals that keep us focused and aware.
Sophomore Jules Oliveti led the Crusaders in points and rebound with 12 and 9 for the game. Sophomore Vanessa Diaz, after missing two games with an injury, also scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds. Junior Gracie Williams’ consecutive minutes streak came to an end in the 3rd quarter when she was subbed out of the game with 5:53 left in the 3rd quarter. Williams played over 208 straight minutes over the last six games dating back to January 29 against Austin College. Williams scored five points against Schreiner and led the team with 4 assists.
On Saturday Trinity jumped ahead quickly and never looked back as they blew out the Crusaders 94-60. Dallas scored 60 points in a game for the first time since their game against Dallas Christian College on Jan. 8.
Diaz earned her seventh double-double of the season scoring 19 points and collecting 10 rebounds. Oliveti and freshman Faith Starnes also scored over 10 points with 14 and 13 respectively. Junior Olivia Severson only scored two points but grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
“Anytime [Vanessa] is aggressive great things happen,” said Burns. “Her teammates feed off her energy which gives the team belief and confidence in themselves. Overall, I’m proud of her fight and the leader she is becoming.”
UD ends the season at 2-23 and 1-15 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). The Crusaders finished in 9th place in the SCAC standings, and will miss the SCAC tournament for the second year in-a-row. Despite the early end to the season, the Crusaders are confident the experience they accumulated this year will propel them into the next season.
“[I am] looking forward to next season,” said Burns. “We return our entire team. Everyone gained tremendous experience with the amount of minutes they played. A big key for our success next season will be for each player to take off-season ownership and ‘sharpen their saw.’ Everyone has to put effective time into building their skill set and be better from where they currently are. Lastly, the new recruits coming in will not only give us depth but a more competitive spirit at practice that will only make us stronger as a team
