By Annabelle Del Bosque — Staff Writer
The Spartans (4-2) looked like a new team in the second half to drive past Buffalo Thursday night.
Megan Anderson led the team with a total of 19 points to take down the no-longer undefeated Bulls (4-1).
Same Team Yet Different Outcome
The first half belonged to the Bulls while the Spartans played catch up. The Bulls’ Dyaisha Fair and Theresa Onwuka both average over 20 points per game and it showed in the first half.
There was no stopping the momentum from these two players having the Spartans trailing at the end of the first quarter 18-25.
“Fair is a tremendous talent as a freshman,” head coach Jamie Craighead said. “She certainly showed she can fill it from the three-point line, especially.”
The Spartans started picking up the pace in the second quarter with Tyra Whitehead leading the team with 14 points and Ayzhiana Basallo with 11. The Bulls led 48-41 at the half.
In the second half, the Spartans came out with a whole other dynamic. The team opened it up with a nine-point run, capturing the lead at 50-48.
Megan Anderson kept up with the energy with shooting from three throughout the second half. She ended the game with a team-high 19 points.
“I had to just find my flow,” Anderson said. “My teammates found me tonight and that’s what got me the shots.”
Right behind Anderson was Basallo and Whitehead as they both ended the game with 18 points.
Basallo’s addition to the Spartans lineup this year has been nothing short of critical.
“I think a lot of people would love to have [Basallo] on their team. I’m happy she’s on mine,” Craighead said. “She elevates the program.”
Finding that Flow
In the first half, the Spartans were a little shaken by the Bulls. They weren’t able to figure out the flow. It took some adjustment between the two halves to realize the potential in the team.
“We were fired up in the locker room,” Anderson said. “We came out. We knew what we needed to do and we came out and did it in the second half. came out and did it.”
That little break made a huge impact on the team. The Spartans were down by as many as seven points in the second half but found motivation to keep up the strength and outshine the once undefeated Bulls.
The players found one another in the paint to produce the baskets that were needed to vanquish the Bulls. Whitehead led the team with 15 rebounds in the game.
“Rebounding the ball was a big thing,” Whitehead said. “We decided we need to because that will determine if we win or lose this game.”
With this home game win against a 2019 NCAA Tournament bid team, it showed that the Spartans have the steam to be up there with their fellow competitors.
Hanging in with the rest of them
This particular game showed that this team is able to keep up with fierce competition.
With Whitehead able to snatch the rebounds and the guards able to find Anderson behind the arc or Basallo near the paint, it showed how crucial taking away the opposing team’s second chance is for this squad.
“I think for this game we need to carry on over our fighting,” Whitehead said. “Our hunger to win. Our hunger to want to be better than what we have been.”
The Spartans will try to extend their win-streak to four Saturday when they host San Diego in the Event Center at 2 p.m.