The BYU-Hawaii women’s basketball team suffered two straight home defeats at the hands of Azusa Pacific and California Baptist on Jan. 29 and 31, respectively. The two losses came after the Lady Seasiders were on a seven-game win streak, including four road wins. The Lady Seasiders fell to a 12-7 record overall and an 8-4 in conference, and are now tied for third in conference. “These were very tough opponents and they showed us what we need to continue to work on in order to be a top team,” said Head Coach Craig Stanger.The Lady Seasiders struggled to produce offensively in both games as they shot 35.6 percent against Azusa and 30.6 percent against Cal Baptist. Turnovers also proved to be a problem for the Lady Seasiders as they gave up 43 turnovers between the two games. Despite statistically staying with Cal Baptist, the Lady Seasiders found themselves behind 42-29 at halftime. The Lady Seasiders struggled most from the field during the going 11 of 36 in the first half (30.6 percent), while Cal Baptist went 16 of 35 (45.7 percent). In the second half, Cal Baptist’s offense and defense proved to be too much for the Lady Seasiders. BYUH had no response for the Cal Baptist inside game. Darsha Burnside, who scored 17 points along with 11 rebounds and 6 blocks, led Cal Baptist’s inside attack.The Lady Seasiders failed to get any spark in the second half as Cal Baptist ran away with the game giving the Lady Seasiders their second consecutive loss 87-53. Celeste Claw led the Lady Seasiders with 14 points and Mata Tonga added 9 rebounds. “It was a tough loss that we need to put behind us,” said Claw, a junior studying exercise and sports science from Arizona. “We still have a lot to play for this season.” Against Azusa, both teams started the game off trading baskets until a 6-0 run by Azusa off of back-to-back three pointers gave Azusa the 23-17 lead about mid-way through the half.The Lady Seasiders responded by closing the gap, 25-21 as both teams were plagued by a slew of turnovers.As both teams got the game back under control, neither team could muster a significant run to take a commanding lead. The Lady Seasiders struggled from the free throw line going 2-7 in the last three minutes, allowing Azusa to go into the half with a four-point lead 35-31. Azusa came out firing on all cylinders in the second half going on an 11-2 run during which Azusa’s Miriam Zabinsky had the hot hand scoring 9 of the 11 points.From that point on, the Lady Seasiders struggled to generate offensively as Azusa closed out the game with a 68-46 win. “It was a disappointing loss, but we have to pick ourselves up and move on from this,” said Whitney Fieldsted, a senior physical education major from Altamont, Utah.The Lady Seasiders will face Chaminade in Honolulu Thursday, Feb. 5 before traveling to California for a three game road trip.
Writer: Matthew Roberts
