GIRLS HOOPS: Nouvel vs. M.L.S.

**Miss Basketball candidate Jenny Ryan**
**Ashley Albito controls Nouvel's offense**

**Sophomore Jessi Franz pushes the ball up court**

**Jenny Ryan posts up Jenna Williams**

Saginaw- Nouvel's quest for a third consecutive title got on track with a 53-38 win over Michigan Lutheran Seminary at Nouvel on Wednesday night. Seminary put their focus on Miss Basketball candidate, Jenny Ryan, from the opening tip. With Ryan not able to get a shot off in the early going Nouvel got down 7-2. Ryan then got into attack mode and scored 6 straight points to give Nouvel an 8-7 lead.

With first game jitters both teams got sloppy and both teams found theirselves in the double bonus with 2 minutes still to play in the first quarter. Seminary's got their own "go to" player in Gracie Baumgartner, and five straight points from the wing made the halftime score 22-21 in Nouvel's favor.

Baumgartner continued to score to start the third and Seminary took a 4 point lead. But Nouvel cranked up their full court pressure and went on a 14-2 run to end the third quarter and take a 37-27 lead into the fourth quarter and Seminary was never able to threaten again.

BREAKDOWN

Nouvel- the two time champs have more size than they had last year and that allowed them to rebound the ball well, but Nouvel is most dangerous when they play a full court fast pace game. Even when their press didn't force turnovers, it just seemed to keep Seminary off balance. Ryan was held to 13 points and her teammates were able to step up, showing this isn't a 1 person team.

MLS- even in the loss I was impressed with Seminary, they got some real decent players and should win the Tri-Valley West. They play hard on defense and really forced Nouvel to work for good shots.

PLAYER OF GAME- Jenny Ryan, Nouvel- a good player doesn't always have to score to make her presence felt and that was the case with Ryan on this night. She still finished with 13 points but it was her 6 rebounds, 6 assist, and 5 steals that made the difference in this game.

NOTABLE STANDOUTS

Gracie Baumgartner, MLS- had a game high 20 points and did a good job defensively as she helped guard Ryan. She's a 5-10 wing that contributes in a variety of ways on both sides of the floor.

Jessi Franz, Nouvel- the 6-0 sophomore led Nouvel with 15 points. She does most of work in the post and has some good post moves. She's also not afraid to put the ball on the floor when needed.

Ashley Albito, Nouvel- the 3 year varsity point guard has really improved her shot. I was also impressed with her vocal leadership that wasn't there last year. Her ability to run the offense allows Ryan to run off picks.

Jenna Williams, MLS- a 5-1 speedy point guard that runs around the floor like the energizer bunny. She was all over Ryan and never let up. She also does a good job of wasting no time to push the ball up the court.