Defense Lifts Women's Basketball to Home Win

Women's Basketball took on Waldorf on Saturday afternoon in Crete for the first meeting between the two teams as conference foes. The teams last met in 2021 when they played a home and home series. On Saturday, the warm temperatures outside did not correlate with the shooting percentages inside. However, the Tigers' defense was locked in as they posted a 71-30 victory over the Warriors.

Doane shot 34.5-percent from the floor (29-of-84), 16-percent behind the arc (4-of-25), and 64-percent at the free throw line (9-of-14). Waldorf was limited to 19-percent shooting (12-of-63), 11-percent behind the arc (3-of-27), and 60-percent at the free throw line (3-of-5). The Tigers out-scored the Warriors, 46-16, in points in the paint.

Waldorf hit a 3-point basket in the opening minute for their first and only lead of the game. Doane answered back with a five-point run from Macy Holtz. The Warriors picked up a basket with 7:47 to play in the quarter to tie the game at 5-5 and the Tigers scored the final 16 points to lead 21-5 after 10 minutes of action.

Doane added three more points to open the second quarter before the Warriors scored, going nearly nine minutes without a point. Megan Chambers and Kaylee Klover scored the final 10 points of the quarter for the Tigers as they led 34-12 at halftime.

The Tigers extended their lead to 31 points after three quarters (53-22) and led by as many as 42 points in the fourth quarter before settling with a 41-point win.

Klover nearly pulled down a rare feat, a 20-20 game, as she posted 20 points and 19 rebounds. She collected 10 offensive rebounds in the game. Mak Hatcliff posted 15 points, seven rebounds (six offensive), six assists, and six steals. Holtz posted 12 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Chambers finished with 10 points and nine rebounds while picking up two blocked shots. Doane had 26 offensive rebounds in the game.

Not to be overlooked was the defensive lockdown by the Tigers against the leading scorer in the GPAC entering play, Brooke Dial. The Warriors' top scorer was averaging 22.5 points per game entering play and Doane, led by the efforts of Maddie Portwine, held Dial to four points on 2-of-13 shooting. She did not score until midway through the third quarter. For the game, Doane finished with 19 steals and four blocked shots.

Waldorf was led in scoring by Charlotte Mills as she finished with seven points. Myia Ruzek posted nine rebounds and Fatou Barry led the team with two assists. Dial posted two of the team's six steals.

Doane will be on the road for the remainder of the calendar year. The Tigers will travel to Fremont on Wednesday, December 11, to take on Midland.