Recent win boosts morale for women’s basketball team

There was a get-it-done mood in the air Wednesday at the women’s basketball practice as the Saints continue to work on turning around their season.

There was a sense of purpose in the room as the Saints, currently fourth in the Southern Region with a 3-4 record, are slowly building their comeback. They have won two of their last three league games, chipping their way back from recent tough losses, picking up wins when it really counts.

The Saints played the Linn-Benton Roadrunners Jan. 28 at home and came away with a 51-49 victory. At the half, the Saints were tied 23-23 despite an early injury to sophomore Kelsey O’Neil, who has been one of the team’s leading scorers this season.

“I rolled my ankle like 10 minutes into the game,” said O’Neil while rehabbing her ankle at practice. “But I should be ready to go for the next game.”

The Saints, who outrebounded the Roadrunners, rallied to narrowly close out the game with a 28-26 second half. Sophomore point guard Emily Burch stepped up to lead Saints scoring with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Head coach Jocelyn McIntire, who has previously said her team needs to step it up and be physical, pushed the girls at practice with one-on-way shooting drills. “If anything, ladies, don’t avoid contact. Embrace it. Because if nothing else, it gets you in there to draw the foul,” McIntire said during the Wednesday drills.

At the halfway mark of the season, the Saints are preparing to play all the Southern Region teams for a second time. The test will be how the Saints adjust to teams the second time around.

The Saints play the Lane Titans Saturday in Eugene with a start time of 4 p.m.