Bryce Marsee | Echo
The women's basketball team went 0-2 in their opening weekend with new head coach Kelly Packard at the reins. The Trojans fell 71-55 to a ranked Purdue Calumet team (No. 21) and suffered a loss due to a feisty comeback from a determined Robert Morris squad, losing 67-63 after letting a 10-point halftime lead slip away.
"Our energy and work ethic were apparent in both games," Packard said. "But we were exposed fundamentally on both sides of the basketball. Offensively, we have to simply value each possession and manage the ball with great efficiency within our system."
In game one, the Trojans hung with Purdue Calumet until midway through the first half, when the Peregrines exploded on an 18-0 run. Taylor was unable to climb back into the game but managed a 19-5 run to end the contest.
Sophomore Taylor Degenkolb led the Trojan attack, tallying 12 points, all of which came from beyond the arc. Sophomore Monica Compton added nine points, while senior Becca Daniels chipped in eight of her own and recorded five rebounds.
In game two of the Radison Tip-Off Classic, the Trojans came out to a hot start leading by as many as 13 and 10 points at the half. A big second half by Robert Morris was too much for Taylor. The Eagles capitalized on 20 Trojan turnovers, leading to 18 points.
"We gave up a 10-point lead due to offensive errors which prevented us from getting a shot in each possession," Packard said. "We did not convert uncontested looks at the basket, and we continued to struggle defensively with containing and directing perimeter penetration into the lane."
Degenkolb led Taylor with 13 points and eight rebounds. Fellow sophomore Jackie Osenbaugh added 12 points, while Compton finished with 11. The Trojans nearly had a perfect game at the charity stripe, as they hit 16-for-17 at the line.
TU will be back in action today when they take on No. 4 Georgetown in their first game of the Georgetown Habitat Classic. Taylor will then have a quick turnaround as they take on Saint Catherine tomorrow in their final game of the tournament.
Photography by Timothy P. Riethmiller
