01/25/08
After starting last season 4-1, the Baker women's basketball team finished the season 5-20. Season at a glance<a href="/womenbasketball">Season at a glance</a> Season at a glance
However, this season the ‘Cats started out 1-4 and have turned things around with their current record of 10-5. The team is once again competing strongly in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Sophomore Tayler Stacks said the biggest difference between the two seasons has been confidence and cohesiveness.
“I think we are very confident we can win every time we step on the floor now,” Stacks said. “Last year, I don’t know if we always felt like that. It took us a little while to get going this year because we do have a lot of new girls this year, but I think we are playing well now and will continue to compete in this conference.”
On Monday the ‘Cats traveled to Fayette, Mo., for a conference matchup with Central Methodist University.
Led by senior Allie Heinen, who dropped in a game high 27 points, Baker shot 53 percent from the field and took the game 81-68.
Just two days earlier, the ‘Cats hosted Evangel University in Collins Center. The Wildcats took control early and went into the break up by seven.
However, Evangel took over the game in the second half outscoring Baker 38-19 in the final 20 minutes of play. Evangel won the game 56-44.
On Jan. 17, Baker headed east to face Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. Despite a sub-par afternoon of shooting from the field, the Wildcats won 69-58.
Baker shot just 35 percent from the field but made its trips to the charity stripe count as it connected on 24 of 30 from the line.
Timing was a big reason the ‘Cats couldn’t get it going from the field, sophomore Kendra Schaefer said.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm that night and it was kind of frustrating,” Schaefer said. “But we did a good job of making our free throws count, and that was definitely the key to winning against Missouri Valley.”
Freshman Kaylee Murdock said now the team must keep the momentum it has created.
“We are playing well now, and we just have to keep it up,” Murdock said.
Baker played William Jewell College Thursday night in Liberty, Mo., but the results of the game were unavailable at presstime.
The Wildcats will take the floor again at 2 p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., when they face Avila University.Sidelines
Free agent defensive tackle Rien Long was listed in stable condition Wednesday after crashing his sports car into a rock wall while driving onto an interstate, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Nashville Police said the 26-year-old former Tennessee Titan was driving at excessive speeds on an on-ramp to Interstate 40 near the downtown area Monday night.
His car started sliding at the bottom of the ramp, went up the embankment and hit a rock wall before rolling onto its roof.
A passenger, 28-year-old Wesley Stephens, was treated for non-critical injuries.
Yahoo! Sports reported shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and the National League champion Colorado Rockies have finalized a $31 million, six-year contract Wednesday that includes a club option for the 2014 season.
Tulowitzki gets $750,000 in each of the next two seasons, $3.5 million in 2010, $5.5 million in 2011, $8.5 million in 2012 and $10 million in 2013. The Rockies have a $15 million option for 2014 with a $2 million buyout,Former Miami Dolphin head coach Cam Cameron was hired as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator Wednesday, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Cameron was fired as Miami Dolphins coach after going 1-15, beating the Ravens for the only win.
Cameron is the first assistant to join new coach John Harbaugh’s staff.
The Dolphins finished near the bottom of the league in yards and points last season. Cameron was fired Jan. 3 by new Dolphins executives Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland.
