AMERICAN TOWNSHIP — It’s going to be tough to replace graduated Amanda Francis and her 1,918 career points.
If that wasn’t enough of a hurdle, University of Northwestern Ohio center Rebecca Puckett went down in the third game with a torn ACL in her knee.
The hurdles are mounting as the UNOH women dropped a 67-56 decision to Siena Heights on Saturday at the UNOH Garage.
The Racers shot 30 percent from the field and only 5 of 24 on 3-pointers.
Madison Coldren, a 5-foot-9 forward from Van Buren, led the team with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Shaye Warman had nine points, six rebounds and five assists. Freshman Kylie Kahlig (Fort Recovery) had eight points.
“We have a long way to go,” UNOH coach Kyle Menchhofer said. “We have no post presence and teams are killing us in the post. We’re not shooting the ball right now. We get in such a hurry because of our lack of size that we’re throwing the ball up at the rim. We’ve got to get better.
“I like my team and they’re a hard-working group. … We go through segments of the game where we make a lot of mental mistakes.
UNOH is 1-7, 0-4 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. Siena Heights is 6-2, 3-1 in the WHAC.
The Racers like to play a running style and when it worked, they cut an 18-7 Siena Heights lead down to 18-17.
But Siena Heights held off the charge and led 27-22 at the half. The Saints then used a 12-0 second-half run to build its lead to 56-38 with 8:10 to go.
“With our lack of size we need to take advantage of numbers,” Menchhofer said.
Jen Jasinski led Siena Heights with 18 points. Amanda Duke scored 13.
For the young Racers, with six freshmen and five sophomores on the roster, the Racers are looking for progress as the season goes on.
“We’re young. It’s a building experience,” Warman said. “I think the difference between this year and last year with our team is how we meshed well together (last year). I could look at Amanda Francis and know she was going to go back door. … It’s going to take time.”
