History to unfold between rivals
Senior guard Dominique Sims said the Eastern women’s basketball team really wants to beat Austin Peay tonight in
Lantz Arena. Sims remembers last season’s Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game, when Austin Peay upset the second-seeded Panthers to win the OVC and secure an automatic big into the NCAA Tournament.
Austin Peay beat Eastern in its first conference game this year, 65-55.
“This is one of those big-time games for us,” Sims said. “They beat us twice – one game very significantly – therefore, this game is really important.”
Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said his team was completely outplayed the first time the Panthers played the Lady Govs.
“It’s going to be an interesting game because it’s so long ago we played them, it feels like we are playing a completely different team,” Sallee said. “Seeing that we lost that last game, that’s a good thing.”
Senior forward Maggie Kloak said both teams are different from the early season match-up.
“We’ve grown and matured as a team, more so than we ever had imagined,” Kloak said. “I think they are going to see a different Eastern team than they saw in the beginning of the season.”
With the teams’ history, Kloak said she expects Austin Peay to come out hard and it should expect Eastern start aggressive.
The Panthers will battle senior center Nicole Jamen, who beat up Eastern for 12 points and 17 rebounds in the two teams’ previous match-up.
“She’s so aggressive and tough,” Sallee said. “You have to first start off by matching her intensity level and toughness. If you don’t do that, she’s going to whoop you.”
Also, Sallee said the Panthers should keep her off the glass and make her take tough shots, which is easier said than done according to Sallee. Sims said the game will be all about who is tougher, because in the two teams’ last match-up Eastern was out-toughed.
“We couldn’t get a good stop,” Sims said. “I think that is what it comes down to – working hard, getting stops and being tough.”
Sims said a win would contribute greatly to the Panthers’ momentum they will try to regain going into next week’s OVC Tournament.
“Not only that this is a big game for us, but just knowing that we can buckle down and play good defense, get a good offensive run, and just make sure that before we get into this tournament we need to have some good wins,” Sims said.
The Panthers will not overlook Austin Peay, Kloak said, the team realizes the tournament is coming up quickly.
“We’re not looking at next week just yet but, definitely, getting this win will be give us a lot of momentum,” Kloak said. “Right now, all we are focusing on is getting this win against Austin Peay.”
To win tonight, Sallee said his team has to focus on its opponent as a whole by understanding its personnel.
Sallee said he is not worried about Eastern knowing the Lady Govs plays but more about the defense knowing the little things, like if a player prefers going left or right.
“They present a world of problems, and it starts with what they do on the boards and post,” Sallee said.
Sallee said the Panthers usually are not tested too much on the boards and post, but will be challenged Thursday.
“There aren’t too many teams that can match us on the boards, but Austin Peay is one of them,” Sallee said.
When the teams take the floor tonight, Sims said the Panthers will not lack motivation, knowing it is a home game and be one of the seniors’ last.
Tip off is slated to be at 5:30 p.m. The game’s admission is $1 for $1 Day.
Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944
