by (Lawrence, Kansas) – The Haskell Indian Nations University Lady Indians moved to (4-0) on the season after defeating the visiting Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes 67-61 at Coffin Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. The Indians were led by Keli Warrior, a 6-1 sophomore center, who finished with a game and season high 19 points, 11 of which that came at the free throw line.
The Haskell women are off to their best start in NAIA school history with this win, the 2009 Haskell Lady team that qualified for the NAIA National Tournament started the season (3-1) in the first four games and ultimately ended the season at (20-9) to earn their national bid. This year’s squad is working hard to hopefully repeat a little bit of history and give head coach Shane Flanagan his first trip to Nationals.
In the first half of the game the Indians and Coyotes traded points early before both teams went to a full court press. Kansas Wesleyan would go on a little run in the 14 minute mark of the game and take a three point lead. Haskell would respond with a run of their own that was led by Jenna Williams who knocked down 11 points in that run that put the Indians up by eleven with just over 4 minutes to play in the half. The Coyotes would chew into that lead before the end of the first-half as Haskell went into the locker room with a 36-29 halftime lead.
In the second half, Haskell came out determined to try and put the Coyotes away and Keli Warrior is who they pushed the ball to help them get their lead back to double-digits. After only scoring a single bucket in the first half, Keli would would add three more when Kansas Wesleyan opted to put Keli at the charity stripe where only a year ago she was shooting just 65% from the line. This season however is different as she was shooting 801% through the first three games of the season. Keli would continue her hot free throw shooting by dropping 11 of 14 and would help push the Indians to a 14 point lead only five minutes into the second half. The Coyotes would no go away and the press would continue to give Haskell trouble the rest of the game but the Indians were able to keep Kansas Wesleyan at bay and finished with the 67-61 win.
Quality shots and free throw shooting by Haskell would be the difference down the stretch in the game as Haskell shot 52% for the game to Kansas Wesleyan’s 34% and Haskell got to the free throw line five more times than the Coyotes.
After the game head coach Shane Flanagan said , “You know, they’re a good team first of all. Kansas Wesleyan is a good team, so I knew it was going to be an up and down battle , turnovers was an emphasis for us we worked on it all week and I know it doesn’t look like it, so I thought that really hurt us. We’re shooting the ball extremely well but our turnovers are what allowing teams to stay in the game against us.”
The Lady Indians will now go on a seven game road trip before they return back to Coffin Complex in Lawrence, Kansas to face Rockhurst University on December 6th.
GAME NOTES:
- Tinaya Murphy, who is averaging 10 points for the Indians. did not play due to an injury. Her return has not been announced.
- This is the 3rd team from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) that Haskell has beat this season. KWU was picked 5th in the conference preseason poll.
Way to go Haskell Indians! Onward Haskell!!!!