Irish Defense Too Much For Dogs

WALLA WALLA - Dayton's Lady Bulldogs' winning streak has come to end.

It was a fast-and-physical matchup against the DeSales Fighting Irish that left the Lady Dogs fighting with all they had during their 60-31 loss to the Irish. The Bulldogs held their own during the second half, but they took a beating in the first half that they just couldn't recover from.

The Irish jumped out to a quick lead on the Bulldogs nailing seven three pointers in the first quarter and holding the Bulldogs for a 27-5 lead going into the second quarter.

The Bulldogs continued to struggle against the physical Irish defense and couldn't catch a break when it came to landing a bucket.

McKayla Bickelhaupt, who can usually light it up from anywhere on the floor, couldn't buy a bucket. And although Nicole Lambert and Courtney Fuller where putting the pressure on the Irish ball handlers, they had trouble converting Irish turnovers.

It was Bickelhaupt who connected on a free throw with 5:52 left in the half to put the first Bulldog points on the board in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs were unable to light the board again until Shelby Smith found her way to the line to sink one with 56 seconds left in the half.

Bulldog Lexie Ramirez fi- nally caught a break at the hoop to put one in for the Dogs with 43 seconds left on the clock and the Bulldogs went into the locker room to regroup down 37-9 at the half.

Although up by nearly 30 points, in typical Irish fashion they continued with a full-court press to open up the second half .

Bulldog Shelby Smith was making the Irish work for it as she drew three-consecutive fouls while going four-for-six from the line.

It was more scoring from the fre-throw line as Bickelhaupt and Samura Miller each sank one. Miller also was able to dish the ball off Sarah Phillips underneath for another basket and the Bulldogs scored 10 fourth quarter points with another basket just under the third quarter buzzer. The Bulldogs began the fourth quarter with a Miller bucket and Jessica Tate hit the court running and went coast to coast for two.

Miller took her turn with a fast-break lay-up, but was fouled on her way up, sending her to the line. Her second shot fell through the hoop, but the Bulldogs trailed, 52-24

The Irish answered with two baskets of their own and Smith was sent to the line once again when she drew the foul going up strong off a Lambert dish. Smith sank both her free throws and Bickelhaupt took her turn sinking two from the line after she drew an Irish foul while driving to the hoop.

The Bulldogs had back-toback steals from Lambert and Bickelhaupt, but the Dogs just couldn't convert on the other end.

Jessica Tate then made a baseline save and dished it to Miller, who sank one from behind the three-point line, but the Irish answered with their own trey and the Bulldogs were out of time. Smith led the Bulldogs with nine points, that all came from the free-throw line and snagged six rebounds.

Miller added seven points and three steals. Tate and Miller each added four points and Lambert dished out four assists.

The Lady Bulldogs will face the Tri-City Prep Jaguars next Friday night in Pasco. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Dayton vs. DeSales

31-60

Day5 41012-31

Des 27 10 13 10 - 60

Smith 9

Miller 7

Fuller 4

Tate 4

Bickelhaupt 3