Lady Badgers take 22-7 record into tourney
By Emily Staley
Staff writer
Mar. 1, 2018
EPHRAIM—The women’s basketball team of Snow College finished their season on a positive note with a final win last week, ending the regular season with 22 victories and only seven losses.
The Lady Badgers lost 67-47 to College of Southern Idaho (CSI) on Thursday, Feb. 22, but turned themselves around by conquering Utah State University–Eastern 65-57 on Saturday, Feb. 24.
Thursday’s loss was more disappointing since the Lady Badgers have been victorious twice this season against CSI.
In Saturday’s game, Snow gained the lead by the middle of the second quarter and never relinquished it.
Although Eastern came close at the end of the third quarter and were on the heels of the Lady Badgers, Snow came out on top with an eight-point victory.
The Lady Badgers have won the Lady Eagles three times this season.
Two of the Lady Badgers scored in double digits in this game. Leading the team once again with 15 points was Harley Hansen. Kayla Hugie contributed 12 points.
Mike Russell, head coach of Snow’s women’s basketball team, highlighted Hansen for being an excellent player this season: “Harley Hansen has been a real consistent player for us. She has done a nice job defensively. She has been our stopper, and we can put her on anyone.”
Russell added she works hard and plays hard: “She is our leading scorer and leading rebounder, and that’s saying something considering she’s a guard. She’s had a good year.”
With 22 victories this season, Snow’s win percentage is 76 percent, and the Lady Badgers are currently ranked No. 23.
“We are very pleased with what they’ve accomplished,” said Russell. “They’ve come together as a group, and we have good team chemistry. That has a lot to do with the success we’ve had and the wins we’ve been able to accumulate. The girls have worked hard and are very coachable.”
Snow will host the Region 18 tournament today through Saturday. They will begin their battle against CSI tomorrow in the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim.
Russell expects a tough game tomorrow against CSI. “They are very talented and well coached,” he said. “We will have to be ready, and we can’t show up the same team we did on Thursday. If we win that, it will be another tough game on Saturday.”
