The ladies enter Saturday’s game against Morris College on a three-game winning streak and seem to be playing their best basketball in the second half of the season. TC finished the first half of the season with a record of 5-9, but the Lady Tornadoes are a perfect 3-0 so far in 2010, with wins over Concordia, Rust and Hiwasee in January.
“It really started with Jacksonville State,” TC head coach Romeo Lagmay said Thursday. “We lost that game. We were up 14 points and then we didn’t have any bench production. We ended up losing that game by 12. That showed a big sign that our team could play at the highest level. From then on we won three in a row. So we’re on a little streak right now.”
After he saw his team struggling through the first half of the season, Lagmay made some changes to his starting rotation to help get better production from his bench.
“I removed some starters and placed them on the bench because our bench production wasn’t where it needed to be, so I placed two starters on the bench and we’re winning now,” Lagmay said.
The move has paid off for the Lady Tornadoes so far, and the starting five has a familiar feel led by seniors Morgan Bennett and Tamiko Rounds. The United States Collegiate Athletic Association recently named Bennett Player of the Week after putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds against Rust College on Saturday.
“She’s doing what she’s supposed to do as a senior,” Lagmay said. “She’s consistent in having double-doubles. She does it all now. She’s scoring; she’s defending. She’s starting to hit her three point shots. Now she’s bringing her post defense back out to the perimeter and she blows right by them. She’s handling the ball; she’s running the lane on the fastbreak. I’m predicting she’ll do big things if we get into the tournament. She’ll be an All-American again. She is well deserving of that award.”
Bennett’s teammate Rounds has been a force on the boards and had a huge offensive game against Rust College.
“Tamiko Rounds, she’s a consistent rebounder,” Lagmay said. “She’s doing very well. Against Rust College she had 30 points, 12 rebounds.”
In addition to the seniors, two sophomores have stepped up for the Lady Tornadoes this season.
“Ebony Richardson is coming into her own at point guard,” Lagmay said. “She’s now starting to take more control in that position. She’s doing well at the free throw line. She can hit the three-point shot. She can penetrate and she’s playing good defense. (Wednesday night) was one of her biggest games. She had 22 points and three rebounds (against Hiwasee). She had four three-pointers.
“Shakila Cole, since I moved her into the starting lineup. She’s starting to score more and pass better.”
With the new rotation, the Lady Tornadoes are looking to not only make the USCAA national tournament in March, but also compete for the championship. TC is currently ranked seventh in the USCAA standings, higher than their ranking a year ago.
The Lady Tornadoes’ look to extend their winning streak on Saturday against Morris College.
“It’s always good to be home,” Lagmay said. “We’ve only lost one game at home this season.”
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
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