MONROE - Senior Alacia Keegan was well aware that in spurts, the Monroe girls basketball team showed they can play with Badger South Conference co-leader Madison Edgewood Tuesday.
The Cheesemakers trailed the Crusaders by four points early in the third quarter. Edgewood switched to a 2-2-1 press and went on a 17-4 third quarter run en route to a 49-31 win over Monroe.
"We all thought we had a good chance to keep it close and give them (Edgewood) a run for their money," said Keegan, who scored 10 points and had seven rebounds. "Our intensity slowed down and we let it get to us. I honestly think to win we have to keep up our intensity on the defensive end."
Monroe (6-10, 1-6 Badger South) committed 19 turnovers and shot 23.8 percent in the second half (5 of 21). Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard scored a team-high 11 points.
"I thought we had a good chance to win," Hilliard said. "We just have to keep our head up when they go on a run. We have to be able to compete with them the whole game. I think we were just trying to rush too much. We just have to slow down. We can't force passes and shots."
Hilliard scored on a layup with 6 minutes, 55 seconds to go in the third quarter to cut the Crusaders' lead to 25-21. That is as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Edgewood senior Emma Meriggioli, a Division II California Baptist University recruit, scored a game-high 15 points. The Crusaders' third quarter surge was sparked by the press. Edgewood sophomore Katie Meriggioli came up with a steal and layup to give the Crusaders a nine-point lead with 1:17 left in the third quarter. Emma Meriggoli made two free throws to extend the Crusaders' lead to 38-27 at the end of the period.
The Crusaders had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. Edgewood sophomore Estaella Moschkau added 11 points and Edgewood sophomores Katie Meriggioli and Kendall Tribus each chipped in 10 points.
Monroe coach Sam Mathiason knows Emma Meriggioli can create defensive problems with her ability to penetrate, which she did in the first half.
"She's a really good player," Mathiason said. "She can distribute the ball to her teammates and she knows when to score. She has a good feeling for that. We could have played off of her, but they have so many weapons and scorers. It's hard to determine who to play off and where to help from. I thought Maddie (Kallgren) worked hard dogging her (Emma Meriggioli). You just have to make it as hard as you can on her.
"I thought the kids played hard, battled and competed. I'm proud of the effort the kids gave tonight."
Hilliard and Keegan combined scored 15 points in the first half to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance. Edgewood's Katie Meriggioli came up with a steal and layup at the end of the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 23-17 lead at the half. Hilliard scored nine of her points in the first half and hit one 3-pointer. She had success driving to the basket to create scoring opportunities.
"Lexi did a good job of finding creases and lanes. We were just looking for whoever we could find wherever to score."
The tide turned in the second half when the Crusaders switched to the 2-2-1 press. The Crusaders in the past have been a halfcourt defensive team.
"I thought coming out we would see the press," Mathiason said. "I'm a little surprised they didn't go to it a little earlier."
The Cheesemakers trailed the Crusaders by four points early in the third quarter. Edgewood switched to a 2-2-1 press and went on a 17-4 third quarter run en route to a 49-31 win over Monroe.
"We all thought we had a good chance to keep it close and give them (Edgewood) a run for their money," said Keegan, who scored 10 points and had seven rebounds. "Our intensity slowed down and we let it get to us. I honestly think to win we have to keep up our intensity on the defensive end."
Monroe (6-10, 1-6 Badger South) committed 19 turnovers and shot 23.8 percent in the second half (5 of 21). Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard scored a team-high 11 points.
"I thought we had a good chance to win," Hilliard said. "We just have to keep our head up when they go on a run. We have to be able to compete with them the whole game. I think we were just trying to rush too much. We just have to slow down. We can't force passes and shots."
Hilliard scored on a layup with 6 minutes, 55 seconds to go in the third quarter to cut the Crusaders' lead to 25-21. That is as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Edgewood senior Emma Meriggioli, a Division II California Baptist University recruit, scored a game-high 15 points. The Crusaders' third quarter surge was sparked by the press. Edgewood sophomore Katie Meriggioli came up with a steal and layup to give the Crusaders a nine-point lead with 1:17 left in the third quarter. Emma Meriggoli made two free throws to extend the Crusaders' lead to 38-27 at the end of the period.
The Crusaders had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. Edgewood sophomore Estaella Moschkau added 11 points and Edgewood sophomores Katie Meriggioli and Kendall Tribus each chipped in 10 points.
Monroe coach Sam Mathiason knows Emma Meriggioli can create defensive problems with her ability to penetrate, which she did in the first half.
"She's a really good player," Mathiason said. "She can distribute the ball to her teammates and she knows when to score. She has a good feeling for that. We could have played off of her, but they have so many weapons and scorers. It's hard to determine who to play off and where to help from. I thought Maddie (Kallgren) worked hard dogging her (Emma Meriggioli). You just have to make it as hard as you can on her.
"I thought the kids played hard, battled and competed. I'm proud of the effort the kids gave tonight."
Hilliard and Keegan combined scored 15 points in the first half to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance. Edgewood's Katie Meriggioli came up with a steal and layup at the end of the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 23-17 lead at the half. Hilliard scored nine of her points in the first half and hit one 3-pointer. She had success driving to the basket to create scoring opportunities.
"Lexi did a good job of finding creases and lanes. We were just looking for whoever we could find wherever to score."
The tide turned in the second half when the Crusaders switched to the 2-2-1 press. The Crusaders in the past have been a halfcourt defensive team.
"I thought coming out we would see the press," Mathiason said. "I'm a little surprised they didn't go to it a little earlier."
