After picking up their first two conference losses of the season, the Lady Bruins bounced back with two big time wins.
Friday night the number five ranked Bruins faced off against the College of Eastern Utah 89-81. 89 points is the Bruins second highest score of the season. They followed that up with another offensive display manhandling the Lady Spartans of Colorado Northwestern a 79-52.
“It was a big confidence boosts,” said sophomore Amie Jensen. “We started off a little slow, but picked it up when we needed to.”
SLCC (11-2 in conference, 19-3 overall) came into the CEU game reeling from a tough weekend up in Idaho. The Bruins were looking to bounce back against the team from Price. On the offensive end SLCC looked primed for a blowout. However, a major lack of defense in the post stopped it.
It was the guards for the Bruins who took off as sophomore point guard Dayna Burgess had 15 points and freshman wing Haley Holmstead had 10. The biggest problem for the Bruins was Kaylie Robison. Robison a sophomore center torched the Bruins in the paint pouring in 16 points on 8-12 shooting. SLCC held on to a slim 40-35 lead.
The second came and the Bruins never slowed for a beat. They shot 20-26 in the second half for a 77 percent clip. A couple late baskets by the Badgers made the final score look closer then it was as the Bruins emptied their bench and coasted in with the eight point win 89-81.
Leading the way was Holmstead who finished with 28 points on 10-14 shooting. Burgess finished with a season high 24 points and also had eight assists. Sheila Adams and Allie Blake wrapped up the players in double figures as Adams had 13 and Blake had 12.
On Saturday the Bruins stiffened their defense and still were able to put up a solid number on the board. Holmstead came out and really set the tone early as she dumped in 16 points and grabbed 5 boards to take SLCC into half up 39-27. Free throw shooting and rebounding were the key for the Bruins. They shot a respectable 12-15 and held CNCC to 0-3. The boards were dominated by the Bruins. They held a 22-11 edge and chipped in 9 offensively.
The second half started and SLCC took the wind right out of the sails of CNCC. They won the half 40-25 to get the 79-52 win. It was Holmstead who lead the way again with 24 points on 8-12 shooting and 8-9 from the free throw line. Allie Blake came alive in the second half to finish with 17 points and nine rebounds. Mina Jovanovic came in of the bench and pulled down every rebound within reach to finish with 10 boards, six points and five assists.
The Bruins travel to Ephraim to take on Snow College this weekend then they will be home for the biggest home stand of the year as they face the College of Southern Idaho on Friday, Feb. 12 and the Cardinals of North Idaho on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tip off on Friday is scheduled for 5:30pm and 3:00pm on Saturday. All home games are played in the Lifetime Activity Center on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
