The WKU Women’s Basketball team didn’t horse around in its season opener win against Kentucky State University Thorobreds.
To say that the Lady Toppers beat KSU would do injustice to the 81-33 victory. The offensive overperformance was unexpected after they limped across the finish line in their exhibition game against Lindsey Wilson.
Though they emerged from the battlefield against the Blue Raiders triumphant, there was no fanfare. Though the Lady Toppers didn’t lose the game, it’s tough to say that they won it.
So, when it came time to start the regular season, there were some fears that the exhibition game was a preview of what the whole season would look like. Luckily, the Lady Toppers’ win against KSU was decisive.
A drastic improvement
WKU’s offense was nearly unrecognizable the moment the ball was in their hands. They dominated the court offensively, starting the game with a 16-0 scoring run.
What makes this offensive overperformance even more impressive is how team-focused it was. Four players scored double-digit points, three of whom were bench players. Forty-two of 81 points came from the bench.
Redshirt sophomore forward Tatum Boettjer had the most minutes, 26, on the court, six more than anyone else on the team. Her performance was impressive to say the least. In her first game starting for WKU, she had 18 points on 6-10 shooting.
Sophomore forward Torri James was another stand-out, playing a terrific game on both sides of the court. She posted nine points, nine rebounds, three blocks and a steal. James played with an unfaltering gritty determination and fought for the ball with tact. Her play netted her zero personal fouls, something no other starter accomplished.
The defense was powerful. If WKU didn’t have the ball, they were fighting tooth and nail to get it back. They forced 29 turnovers that netted them 38 points, and they out-rebounded KSU by 11.
The Lady Toppers moved like a singular defensive machine. They followed the ball like sharks smelling blood in the water.
Good, but far from perfection
Despite all of the impressive strides the Lady Toppers made between their first games, there’s still plenty of potential that can be realized.
The team’s biggest Achilles heel is turnovers. They’ve turned the ball over 20 times in both of their games, 25 against Lindsey Wilson and 22 against KSU.
It’s a hole in the boat that needs to be filled soon, because that kind of leak isn’t something you want to weather into the choppy waters of conference play..
The game was quiet for sophomore guard Trinity Rowe and senior forward Zsophia Telegdy. Neither performed particularly well, even with 18 and 15 minutes apiece.
Telegdy was the team’s strongest player against Lindsey Wilson, with 12 points and seven rebounds, but that performance did not carry into the game against KSU.
She posted five points and three rebounds while turning the ball over four times. Her only points came after at the beginning of the third quarter, but she was otherwise a minimally impactful player on the court.
Rowe’s performance was similarly below expectations. Though her passing improved between games and she played with more confidence than she did last week, she still underperformed.
Her four assists and two rebounds were underwhelming company to three points on 1-7 shooting.
Despite these criticisms, Head Coach Greg Collins must have put those two on the starting roster for a reason. With more time to shine, perhaps they’ll step up to be team leaders.
Looking forward
On Saturday, the Lady Toppers will travel to Farmville, Va, to play against Longwood University.
The game will be challenging, not just because it’s their first away game. In their first game of the season, the Longwood Lancers beat the Randolph College Wildcats 121-35 on Nov. 5.
To see a victory in Farmville, the Lady Toppers will have to fight for it. They’ll need more from Telegdy and Rowe, and the turnover problem needs to be solved.
