NAPPANEE – A cold night shooting made for a cold end to the night as Plymouth’s Lady Pilgrims dropped an NLC decision to NorthWood 43-38.
Plymouth trailed almost instantly – at one point in the first quarter falling behind 18-2 – but even though digging a big hole managed to climb their way out by the fourth quarter taking a lead with a little under two minutes to play.
It was a concentrated effort on defense that kep the Lady Pilgrims off balance for that first quarter but it was a recommittment to their own defense that brought Plymouth back into the game.
“I thought we played with energy for three quarters but when we finally played with a little more energy and the free throw bug got us again today,” said Plymouth Head Coach Dave Duncan. “I think we missed 10 free throws again and some of those were the front end of one and ones. To play the better elite teams in the state or in the conference you have to defend a little better and hit your free throws down the stretch.”
Plymouth did again suffer from the “free throw bug” as they could hit on only 7 of 17 free throw attempts. Plymouth was just 15 of 40 (37 percent) shooting on the night and a tough 1 of 12 from behind the arc.
Still the Plymouth defense – after allowing 18 in the first quarter – gave up just 25 points the rest of the way, while holding division I recruit Jordyn Frantz to just 9 points – well below her average of 20 points per game – and a miserable 13 percent shooting from the field. Give that credit to Lady Pilgrim Allie Wright with an assist to Kara Morwood.
“I thought Allie Wright came to play, tonight,” said Duncan. “Not only her points but her defensive play. Kara (Morwood) gave us some great defense for a stretch there too. Jordyn Frantz averages 20 points a game and I think she had nine, I thought those two played with a lot of energy tonight.
“There again missed free throws, maybe a block out here and there and you give them a put back or two. We need 32 minutes of effort.”
Plymouth is now 8-3 on the year and suffers their first loss in NLC play. NorthWood is also 8-3 and unbeaten in NLC play.
Score by Quarters
NorthWood 18 23 33 43
Plymouth 2 13 26 38
NorthWood (43) – Trenshaw 4 3-4 12, Flickinger 1 0-0 2, Frantz 2 5-8 9, Holmes 1 0-0 2, Roe 4 0-3 8, Glass 0 0-0 0, Yoder 1 0-0 2, Dielstra 3 0-0 6, Feenstra 1 0-0 2, Totals 17 8-15 43.
Plymouth (38) – Stevens 5 5-12 15, Andrews 0 0-0 0, Fosler 0 1-3 1, Harrell 0 1-2 1, Wright 4 0-0 9, Morwood 0 0-0 0, Sthephenson 2 0-0 4, Horvath 4 0-0 8. Totals 15 7-17 38.
3 Pt. FG – NorthWood 1-6 (Trenshaw), Plymouth 1-12 (Wright).
Rebounds – NorthWood 25 (Frantz 7), Plymouth 24 (Stevens, Wright 6).
Assists – NorthWood 9 (Flickinger 3), Plymouth 7 (Fosler 3).
Steals – NorthWood 9 (Roe, Frantz, Trenshaw 2), Plymouth 4 (Wright, Horvath 2).
Turnovers – NorthWood 14, Plymouth 14.
Fouls (Fouled out) – NorthWood 17, Plymouth 19 (Stevens).
