Defense Leads Lady Roadrunners to Sweep

The 23rd-ranked Lady Roadrunners snapped their two-game losing skid Nov. 28-29 at the Moberly Classic in Moberly, Missouri.

SFCC (10-2) defeated the Sauk Valley Community College Lady Skyhawks from Dixon, Illinois, 75-46 on Friday.

Sophomore guard Erin Boothe scored the first five points for SFCC, and the Lady Roadrunners led 43-30 at halftime. Sophomore center Alecia Cooley scored 19 of her team-high 23 points in the first half to lead SFCC in scoring.

"They could not stop her," said Lady Roadrunners Head Coach Kevin Bucher. "We were getting her the ball in the right spots where she could get some easy baskets. She was demanding the basketball."

Cooley finished her double double by tying for the team lead in rebounds, pulling down 10. Sophomore guard Derriel Banyard also pitched in with 11 points, 10 rebounds and a team-high five assists. Boothe contributed 14 points, led the team in blocked shots with three and tied for the lead in steals with three. Freshman guard/forward Zhanesha Dickerson added 10 points and tied for the lead in steals. Freshman guard Maura Skidmore also registered three steals. The Lady Roadrunners forced 27 turnovers and recorded 16 steals in the game.

The Lady Roadrunners closed out their portion of the classic with a 70-46 victory over the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Lady Norse from Miami, Oklahoma. SFCC used its full-court defense to force 29 NEO turnovers.

"Our press really gave them problems," said Bucher. "We forced 20 turnovers in the first half. Our defense moved as well as it has moved all year."

Dickerson led three Lady Roadrunners in double-figure scoring with 16 points. Boothe contributed 13 points and tied for the team lead in steals with two. Cooley put together another double double with 11 points and a team-high 18 rebounds. Skidmore dished out a team-high five assists and tied for the team lead in steals with two.

"This weekend was one of our best defensive performances against two quality teams," said Bucher. "It will help prepare us for the teams coming up on our schedule."

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics Department