Even in sports or especially in sports there’s just no place like home. On the road this past weekend, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams fell to strong rivals they just recently played at home.
In the previous two home games, the women’s basketball team managed to suppress the might of the Washington University in St. Louis Bears and the also-powerful University of Chicago Maroons. They couldn’t do the same in this go-around.
Playing in St. Louis on Friday, the women’s team began giving up points 12 minutes into the first half, resulting in a 40-68 defeat the worst loss this season.
‘WashU came out on fire,” sophomore center Jodie Luther said. ‘We weren’t executing our stuff very well, getting the big rebounds or hitting many shots, and that in combination with their play did not make for a very good outcome. It is definitely much tougher to face them on the road at their place as well.”
The Yellowjackets fared better against the Maroons on Sunday. Despite being in a 23-point deficit at the end of the first half, the women began a comeback with just over three minutes left in the game. A series of free throws and lay-ups by sophomore forward Kate Egan and Luther rallied UR to within 11 points of Chicago. It wasn’t enough to prevent a 64-73 loss, however, as UR’s record fell to 15-5 for the season.
That loss also cost the team its spot in the d3hoops.com top-25 poll, which acts as a rankings system for D III basketball. The WashU women’s season record advances to 18-2; UC stands even with UR.
The men, meanwhile, put up a good fight against WashU, but couldn’t overcome the Bears. Despite trailing most of the game, a lay-up by sophomore forward Nate Novosel four minutes into the second half brought the teams to even keel. Novosel, followed that lay-up with another, pushing the Yellowjackets ahead for the first time since the middle of the first half.
The Bears responded, UR sophomore forward Bill Serle countered with a three-pointer. That was the last time the Yellowjackets would hold a lead the game ended 59-68 and dropped the men to 13-5. WashU is now No. 3 according to d3hoops.com.
Two days later, Chicago proved to be out for blood. After losing by a point at the previous Palestra matchup, the Maroons exacted their revenge against the Yelowjackets with a 69-43 win.
Both the men and women may find more favorable roads ahead as they each prepare to play away games against Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University this weekend. The Yellowjackets routed both teams in previous home matchups.
Either way, Luther’s preparing for the upcoming challenge.
‘We beat both of these teams on our home court, but we have to go out and play some good basketball to win this weekend.”
Brenneman is a Take Five Scholar.
