By: SYDNEY KOON
(Gainesville, Ga.) The Brenau University Basketball Team played two conference matches November 15th and 16th. Brenau hosted William Carey University on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and Blue Mountain College on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Golden Tigers took both wins and started off their conference season strong.
“I am very proud of the way our team is playing together. We have won four straight games and we are learning and improving each day,” said Head Coach Kristoffer Stewart.
“This weekend was a great test for us, and getting two early conference wins cannot be understated.”
William Carey was the first game on the conference schedule for Brenau.
In the first half, the teams were neck and neck, both fighting for the win. Brenau converted 18 out of 19 free throws. The Golden Tigers took the 30-28 lead going into the half.
In the second half, the teams were constantly changing who was leading in score. When Freshman Guard Quinnesha Turner and Junior Forward Jasmine Butler scored back to back baskets, the Golden Tigers took control of the game. Brenau had an eight point lead in the last five minutes of the game. Senior Guard Anela Durmic drove for a layup and brought Brenau up to a comfortable ten point lead with less than two minutes to go. Durmic scored 10 points within the second half.
The Golden Tigers defeated the Crusaders 59-48.
Butler led in points scored for Brenau with 14 points. She also had 15 rebounds in this game, a season high. Durmic scored 12 points for the Golden Tigers, a personal career high. Senior Guard Brittney Wiley added 11 points to the final score.
The Golden Tigers shot 79 percent at the free throw line and dominated the rebounds over the Crusaders 41-27.
“I think we did a great job with William Carrey. We were about 80 percent on a free throw line, while William Carrey had just 35 percent from the free throw line. Also, we got more rebounds, and overall I believe our posts had a good game, said Senior Anastasia Minaeva.
“It’s hard for them this year because they are all freshman and everybody has a high expectations from them, but they are working really hard and it helps us a lot this year,”
Brenau faced Blue Mountain College on Saturday afternoon, with winning momentum from the William Carey game.
Brenau started off the game with a 10-0 lead. Sophomore Guard Kalin Williams took a rebound and went sideline to sideline for a layup. Freshman Post Nekeia Brown followed with consecutive layups of her own. They shot 14 out of 28 in the first half.
In the second half, Butler scored ten points bringing the Golden Tigers to a 20 point lead. Blue Mountain scored more points in the end of the game, but the early lead by Brenau kept them ahead for the win.
The Golden Tigers took the win from the Toppers 71-64.
Williams led the team in points scored with 17, seven rebounds, and six assists. Butler added 15 points with nine rebounds. Turner had 12 points scored with four assists. Durmic and Brown both tied with nine points for the Golden Tigers.
“I truly felt like we played as a team. We had great chemistry and it was shown on the court. I feel really good about this group of girls,” said Sophomore Guard Claire Zimmerman.
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