INDIANAPOLIS – The battle today between the IU Indianapolis Jaguars and the Bradley Braves was mostly fought out in the paint. The Jaguars, particularly junior guard Nevah Foster, consistently worked through traffic to drive the ball to the rim, keeping ahead of the Braves. This offensive display at home led to IU Indy taking a win, 75-67.
“I think this year, with the makeup of our team, we are trying to play really fast,” head coach Kate Bruce said in regard to the team’s 52 points from the paint. “We are trying to get a lot of easy points from our defense, making plays, getting steals, and making good decisions and transitions.”
In the first quarter alone, the Jaguars stole the ball seven times, forced nine turnovers, and scored six points off of those turnovers. At the forefront of this movement was Foster. She scored nine of her team-high 28 points in the first 10 minutes and laid out the blueprint for how the game would be played.
While a majority of her points did come from that fast game play style that Bruce has developed in her players, Foster also made several jumpers and a triple. In addition, Foster also played great defense with seven rebounds and a team-high four steals.
“It was 28 points [by Foster], but it was 12 of 18 shooting, very efficient.” said Bruce of her point guard, “She was taking the right shots. She was being patient, and she was also playing great defense. She had a great game for us.”
Foster wasn’t the only Jaguar to tell a story in today’s game, junior guard/forward Olivia Smith also had something to say. Smith seemed to come alive in the fourth quarter when the team needed her most as the Braves pulled ahead. With a step back shot that brought the win back into the hands of the Jaguars, followed by a steal and layup to extend their lead, Smith scored 12 of her 14 points in the final quarter.
Both Foster and Smith fouled for the fourth time within the last nine minutes of gameplay. With the game on the line, the teammates not only worked to obtain the win for IU Indy, but did so with a focused edge that kept them out of trouble.
“They are both upperclassmen, and that shows a lot of maturity to be able to get on defense and not get a ticky tack call, and I thought that they showed that they were juniors,” coach Bruce said.
The Jaguars will attempt to follow up this home win with a win away at Evansville against the Aces’ November 20th.
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