A laundry list of ailments to the Sturgis girls basketball team played a major role in the Trojans’ slow start to the 2013-14 season. On its home court Tuesday, Sturgis simply played its way out of the hole.
Morgan Pueschel (center) and the Trojans got their first win of the year against Loy Norrix.
(Photo by Tracie Pueschel)
In their first win of the year, the Trojans used a 14-4 advantage at the free-throw line to get by Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 43-36.
Gretchen Inman and Rachel Anderson turned in 15-point performances to pace Sturgis in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division contest. Anderson added nine rebounds and a pair of steals while making 5 of 12 shot attempts. Inman grabbed four rebounds and recorded a steal.
Finally breaking into the win column was a relief for a team still without Nikki Nelson (hamstring), Kayla Nichols (hand), Courtney Lovelace (shin splints) and Megan Courtney (ankle).
“It’s great,” Inman said. “It’s good to know that even with all the injuries that the team can work together and get the win. I can’t wait to see what we can do when everyone is healthy. Hopefully after Christmas break we will have our full team back.”
Morgan Pueschel scored 10 points and registered five steals and an assist for Sturgis, which is now 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the SMAC East. Marissa Parker posted three points, one assist and a steal for the Trojans, which shot 31.1 percent (14-for-45) from the field and 60.9 percent (14-for-45) from the charity stripe.
Loy Norrix made just 10 trips to the foul line and was outrebounded 28-22. Sturgis turned the ball over 28 times compared to the Knights’ (1-3, 1-2) 32 giveaways.
Hannah Meyers led Loy Norrix, which trailed from the end of the first quarter on, with 14 points.