13COURIER • NOVEMBER 30, 2012

SPORTS

3 keys to Tuesday night’s game

FREE THROW SHOOTING: Coach Cotton has emphasized the importance of efficient free throw shooting all season, but the Lady Chaps again struggled from the line.

TURNOVERS: The Lady Chaps were able to capitalize on some of the Cyclones’ turnovers but needed to do a better job of minimizing their own sloppy plays.

OFFENSIVE SURGES: The Chaps looked their best when the team went on a 17-4 run to close the first half. More hot streaks like this will help propel them to victory.

The Lady Chaparrals played a hard fought game against the Moraine Valley Cyclones Tuesday night, but fell just short, losing 57-55. The 7 ranked Chaps were coming off of a 61-52 victory and had won four of their last five games. The team was clearly looking to keep the early season momentum going. The game started out shaky for the Chaps as the Cyclones quickly jumped out in front with an 11-3 lead. The Chaps’ offense seemed to have a difficult time gaining any offen-sive rhythm with many of their first possessions ending in missed field goals and turnovers. The Cyclones continued their early dominance and extended their lead to 14, midway through the first half. Down 22-8, the Lady Chaps did not get rat-tled and the team began an impressive comeback sparked by the offensive play of guard Sarah Lang. Lang knocked in two shots from downtown and had a clean assist to cen-ter Melissa Niggins who finished with a bucket under the hoop. The Cyclones started

getting sloppy with the ball themselves and the Chaps made sure to capi-talize on the turnovers. The team went on a 13-0 run to bring the game within one with four minutes to go in the first half. Moraine Valley was able to end their scoreless streak and maintain their lead, 26-25, as the buzzer sounded, but the Lady Chaps ended the half on a strong 17-4 run. In the second half of play, the Lady Chaps were not able to continue where they left off in the first. Both teams’ offenses were slowed down, each going on numerous scor-ing droughts. Even though this meant the score stayed close, it also meant that the Lady Chaps struggled to get ahead in the game. As the clock ticked down to its final moments, the Cyclones took a four point lead with 30 seconds to play. Chaps forward Don-na Koerber banked in a jumper with 17 seconds to go, making the score 54-52. The team’s defense had to foul and after the Cyclones hit both their free throws, Chaps soph-

See CHAPS, Page 15

AUSTIN SlOTTSPorTS ediTor

Photos by London Summers

Center Melissa Niggins knocks down a mid-range jumper over a Cyclone defender.

Lady Chaps swept up by CyclonesTurnovers and poor free throw shooting contribute to Chaps’ loss to Moraine Valley