Not quite ready. Not quite physical enough. Not quite quick enough. Not quite experienced enough.
Close, but not quite.
That's the verdict on the North Dakota State women's basketball team after watching the Bison lose 77-72 to top-ranked South Dakota State at the Bison Sports Arena.
For the first time since Jayne Even led the Bison to the national title game in 2000, there was legitimate hope in Fargo that NDSU had returned to the upper echelons of NCAA Division II. Amy Ruley's team had already defeated a No. 1-ranked team when it beat Missouri Western State back in mid-December. With the addition of transfer center Michelle Fricke and the emergence of freshman point guard Katie Lorenz, it was clear the Bison had made major strides after a disappointing season last year.
But the differences Friday between the No. 1 Jackrabbits and the No. 4 Bison were greater than the three spots that separated the teams in the rankings.
ADVERTISEMENT
The differences were also greater than the game's final margin of five points.
A better indication was these numbers: 52 and 35.
That would be the number of rebounds gathered by SDSU, followed by the number of rebounds gathered by NDSU.
For the Bison, a team that out-rebounded opponents by an average of seven over its first 15 games, that is a disheartening differential.
Whether SDSU had the advantage because of its superior strength or its superior quickness depended on which coach you asked after the game.
Ruley voted for strength.
"Overall, we had moments where we could play with SDSU, and other times they manhandled us," she said. "It felt like it was that physical aspect of the game that (SDSU) took advantage of."
SDSU coach Aaron Johnston pushed the quickness angle.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We were physical, yes, but I think we were a step quicker all night and that was the difference. There were a couple of offensive rebounds down the stretch that were huge and we got them because we were quicker getting to the ball, not because we were more physical," Johnston said.
Sorry, Aaron, but we're going to have to go with the hometown coach on this one. If the tie-breaking vote belonged to this observer, he would have to go with strength as the key difference between the teams.
Exhibit A was Jackrabbits senior Melissa Pater. The Bison did not have an answer for the 5-foot-11 forward, despite holding a height advantage in the post.
After scoring six points and grabbing five rebounds in the first half, Pater added 22 points and seven rebounds in the second half.
This was because she was able to use her strength to seal off Bison defenders, which led to easy baskets in the paint. This was because she was able to use her strength to box out Bison rebounders, which led to more easy baskets in the paint.
"At halftime we talked about being more physical and not being so tentative," Pater said. "We did a good job of taking care of that in the second half and that was the difference. Most of my points came in the second half and most of them came off offensive rebounds or put-backs. Part of that was just being more physical."
Case in point: The biggest basket of the game came off an offensive rebound and basket by Pater with 33 seconds remaining. With SDSU clinging to a 73-70 lead and the shot clock wasting away on a Jackrabbit possession, Heather Sieler missed a long 3-pointer. But Pater was there, holding off her defender and gathering in the offensive board. Then she laid the ball of the glass for an easy bucket and a 75-70 lead.
End of game, for all intents and purposes.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Ruley presided over her longest post-game meeting in memory, Bison players vowed to use the loss as a learning experience. You know, the old what-doesn't-kill-you-makes-you-stronger stuff.
Which, come to think of it, is the perfect way to look at it.
The Bison, and we're talking literally and not figuratively, need to get stronger.
If they do, they have a chance at making up the three spots in the rankings, the five points and the 17 rebounds that separate them from SDSU.
Readers can reach Mike McFeely at (701) 241-5580 or mmcfeely@forumcomm.com
