Sunday, March 05, 2000
Mason struggles to win district
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WILMINGTON — The usual postgame celebration by the Mason girls basketball players was subdued.
None of the Comets found reason to show emotion after struggling to a 53-47 victory over St. Ursula in a Division I district championship game Saturday at Wilmington College.
The district title was Mason's fourth consecutive in Division I and fifth consecutive dat ing back to 1997, when the Comets competed in Division II.
“I don't think we took them too lightly,” Mason coach Gerry Lackey said. “Michelle (Munoz) was frustrated early and St. Ursula took advantage of it. It takes a good team to win when they're not playing their best.”
Junior Jere' Issenmann rescued Mason.
A 5-foot-11 junior guard who recently committed to the University of Illinois, Issenmann sank six 3-pointers, including five in the first half when Munoz was on the bench with two early fouls.
“It surprised me that I had the open shots,” Issenmann said. “This was my best 3-point game of the season, but not my career best.”
St. Ursula took a quick 5-2 lead and in the process drew two fouls on Munoz, which forced Mason's leading scorer to the bench with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter.
But Issenmann quickly took over, sinking four consecutive 3-pointers as Mason took a 15-11 lead that the Comets increased to 28-20 at halftime. Beth Jones and Susan Lippert each scored four points in the second quarter.
“We played a 3-2 zone trying to match up on Munoz on the inside,” St. Ursula coach Tim Ballinger said.
Munoz returned to the lineup in the third quarter and immediately took control on the inside. She scored eight points as the Comets extended their lead to 39-30 after three quarters and 44-30 early in the fourth quarter.
Mason advances to the Division I regional semifinals and plays the winner of the Clayton Northmont-Colerain game at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Wright State University.
ST. URSULA (47) — Fischer 1-6 3-3 6, Grogan 1-3 0-0 2, Mahon 3-6 2-2 10, Connaughton 6-10 1-1 13, Menke 5-10 2-2 12, Crowell 2-5 0-0 4. Totals:18-40 8-8 4 7.
MASON (53) — Lippert 0-1 4-4 4, Issenmann 6-9 0-2 18, Jones 5-13 4-4 16, Munoz 5-14 5-7 15, Imbus 0-1 0-0 0, Ellis 0-0 0-1 0, Shull 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 16- 39 13-18 53.
St. Ursula ....... 11 9 10 17—47
Mason ....... 15 13 11 14—53
3-pointers: M (8-13) Issenmann 6, Jones. SU (3-8) Fischer, Mahon. Rebounds: SU (29) Menke 11, Connaughton 6. M (19) Jones 8, Munoz 7. Assists: SU (9) Mahon 3. M (10) Ellis 3, Jones 3. Turnovers: SU 13, M 8. Officials: Dave Wortman, Lee Barlow, Deb Garcia. Attendance: 2,500 (estimated). Records: Mason 23-0, St. Ursula 17-6.
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