Saturday, December 02, 2006

Valparaiso got a triple-double from Betsy Rietema (Grand Rapids, Mich./Christian H.S.) and a double-double from Tamra Braun (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake H.S.) but it was not enough as the Crusaders fell to Indiana State 83-71 on Saturday afternoon at the Hoosier State Classic in Indianapolis, Ind.

Rietema scored 14 points while dishing out a career-high 10 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds for her first career triple-double. Braun scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds for Valpo, which was playing its third game in five days.

The opening 10 minutes of the contest saw both teams trading baskets, with neither team building an advantage of more than three points. Valpo then went on a quick 7-0 spurt, keyed by a Rietema steal and score and a Sarah Ott (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls H.S.) three-pointer to open up a 25-18 lead with 9:02 to play in the half.

Indiana State answered with the next 10 points, including a pair of triples by Angela Phillips. Valpo kept it close the rest of the half, and trailed just 41-38 at the intermission.

Rietema led the Crusaders at the break with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists while Myers added nine points. Leah Phillips led Indiana State led Indiana State with 11 points at halftime.

After the Sycamores increased their lead to six to start the second half, Valpo went on a 13-2 run over 3:30 to retake the lead 51-44. In the game of runs, Angela Phillips hit back-to-back threes for Indiana State to help them retake the lead on a 10-2 spurt. Indiana State added to the lead over the next five minutes, building a 69-60 advantage with 7:46 to go in the game.

Valpo went cold from the floor, making just three field goals over eight minutes as the deficit grew to 12, 76-64, with 3:30 to play. The Crusaders were unable to cut the deficit under eight the rest of the way as their four-game winning streak was snapped.

Carrie Myers (Stickleyville, Va./Lee H.S.) finished the game with five three-pointers and 15 points while Ott added 13.

Angela Phillips led Indiana State (4-2) with 21 points while Leah Phillips added 17along with Rachel Maenpaa. Laura Rudolphi added 14 points for the Sycamores.

Valpo committed just nine turnovers in the contest, a season-low, but made just 2-of-15 three-point attempts in the second half.

Valparaiso (4-3) now gets eight days off before returning to the court next Sunday, December 10 in Fort Wayne, Ind. for Hoopla: A Celebration of Women's Basketball. Tip-off against Ball State is set for 12 p.m. CST.