Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Islanders edge Tulsa, 58-56

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Sunday, December 10, 2000

Islanders edge Tulsa, 58-56
A&M-CC women outrebound Golden Hurricane, 48-34
By Matt Young
Caller-Times
TULSA, Okla. - Sheryl Estes knows how to get her point across. After her team got badly outrebounded in a loss to Oral Roberts on Thursday, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coach ripped her team in a postgame meeting, then ran her players through a hard practice Thursday that focused on rebounding.
   Point taken.
   A&M-Corpus Christi's aggressive attack on the boards keyed the Islanders to a narrow 58-56 win over Tulsa on Saturday at the Reynolds Center.
   A&M-Corpus Christi (5-4) outrebounded Tulsa (1-5) 48-34. After giving up 20 offensive rebounds Thursday, the Islanders limited Tulsa to just nine offensive boards, while grabbing 19 for themselves.
   "We did a lot of boxing out in practice Friday; I even had them boxing out during shooting drills," Estes said. "I guess you could say the players got my point."
   In a game that featured nine ties and 14 lead changes, the rebounding advantage was just enough to give the Islanders the edge. Jean Clark and Rocky Grayson led the rebounding attack with 10 each.
   The play of Kristin Rogers, who grew up in nearby Sand Springs, Okla., was also a big advantage for the Islanders. Rogers led the way with 19 points, including some big points in the final minutes.
   "I thought we were going to have a good matchup with one of our best players Denise Wagner going up against Rogers, but Rogers came into our gym and had a field day," Tulsa coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said.
   With the Islanders trailing by a point with 2:33 left in the game, Rogers picked up an offensive rebound and got fouled. She converted both free throws to give the Islanders the lead.
   Tulsa's Candice Brewer answered with a running scoop shot to put Tulsa up again, before Rogers gave the Islanders the lead for good. Rogers got the ball in the post and hit a turnaround jumper to put A&M-Corpus Christi on top 55-54 with 1:10 remaining.
   Tulsa's Athena Pirpich, who led Tulsa with 15 points and eight assists, misfired on a 3-point attempt and when the Islanders grabbed the rebound, Tulsa was forced to foul. Islander point guard Mandie Vinck hit three of four free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
   It was a significant win for A&M-Corpus Christi, which has struggled in close games. Before Saturday, the Islanders were 0-2 this season in games decided by six points or less. Last season, the Islanders were 2-6 in games decided by the same margin.
   "I think the experience factor finally paid off for us down the stretch," Estes said. "We've been in a lot of close games, but we haven't executed down the stretch in the past. This time we did some really good things down the stretch, and none of those things were bigger than Kristin Rogers' points in the final couple of minutes and Mandie Vinck stepping to the line and making those free throws in the last two possessions."



Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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