PLYMOUTH – It went down to the wire but in the end, Glenn was one play better as the Lady Falcons took a road win over Plymouth by a final of 49-48.
The game-winner would be Kennedy Hayden’s drive to the basket on the Falcon’s last possession that put Glenn up with just a few seconds left in the game. The Pilgrims had time to get a shot of their own but couldn’t get a time out before the buzzer to set it up.
“We have to grow our basketball IQ,” said Plymouth coach Micaela Schalliol. “I was trying to call a time out there and the ref didn’t hear me, but if we don’t get that time out we have to realize we are in the bonus so we have to get to the paint and draw a foul.”
In a back and forth game it was the red hot shooting of Glenn, and Jessica Yelaska, in particular, that had a big impact. Glenn hit 60 percent from beyond the arc and Yelaska was 6 for 7 on her way to 20 on the night.
“Honestly it’s hard to beat a team that shoots 60 percent from three,” said Schalliol. “I thought Lena (Jones) was right there with her she really didn’t get open looks.”
“She’s our cornerstone,” said Glenn coach Ted Hayden of Yelaska’s performance, “Lauren (Fansler) and Kennedy (Hayden) came up big too and now we have Mia (Hooten) back and we’re just trying to get her back in shape. We aren’t deep, so we have to be in shape.”
Glenn led most of the game but pushing the ball to their talented post players the Pilgrims were able to fight back and take a lead in the final minute.
“It’s a good win for us,” said Hayden. “We knew that Plymouth could dominate with (Clare) Sheedy and (Taylor) Delp, anybody would like to have them on their team but we got tired.”
“They were beating us up and we got away from pressuring the guards,” he said. “That time out in the fourth quarter we went to pressuring the guards again and that was the difference in the game.”
Delp ended the night with 17 points and 10 rebounds but was followed closely by Sheedy with a big night of 14 points and nine rebounds. Just as big was Ellie Jones who had four points, but a huge floor game with six rebounds and a pair of steals.
“Honestly we’re looking for five players that want to play with heart and Ellie Jones definitely showed that so she will see more minutes,” said Schalliol. “She did everything that we needed. She showed that she wanted it.”
Glenn was able to take Delp away for a part of the game and gave Sheedy a chance to respond with her big night.
“It’s going to continue to happen especially in our conference where they scout us a ton,” said Schalliol. “They are going to know what we do and who we go to so anyone has to be ready to go on a certain night.”
Plymouth is now 7-4 with an NLC game at home on Saturday with NorthWood. Glenn is 8-4 and has a conference match-up with South Bend Washington on Thursday.
*GLENN 49, PLYMOUTH 48
at Plymouth
Plymouth 11 20 33 48
Glenn 16 24 36 49
Plymouth (48) – Hunter 0 0-0 0, E. Jones 1 2-3 4, Delp 5 7-10 17, M. Mann 0 0-0 0, L. Jones 2 0-0 4, Dragani 4 0-0 9, R. Mann 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, Sheedy 6 2-2 14. Totals 18 11-15 48.
Glenn (49) – Fansler 3 1-2 9, Hayden 6 2-2 15, Romer 0 0-2 0, Johnson 0 0-1 0, Hooten 2 1-3 5, Yelaska 7 0-1 20. Totals 18 4-11 49.
3 pt FG – Plymoth 1-7 (Dragani), Glenn 9-15 (Yelaska 6).
Rebounds – Plymouth 31 (Delp 10), Glenn 20 (Hooten, Fansler 5).
Assists – Plymouth 12 (L. Jones 4), Glenn 3 (Fansler, Romer, Yelaska).
Steals – Plymouth 14 (Delp 4), Glenn 11 (Hayden 4).
Turnovers – Plymouth 19, Glenn 13.