Sophomore forward Sammy Opichka scored seven of her 25 points in a second-quarter run that gave the Tommies the momentum they needed to defeat Purdue Fort Wayne 79-64 Thursday at Schoenecker Arena.
Opichka put up 12 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Tommies (4-4, 0-0 Summit) outlast the Mastodons (4-6, 1-1 Horizon).
“You want to be able to handle every situation that comes to you,” coach Ruth Sinn said. “I thought they did a really nice job finishing off that game with an exclamation point.”
The Tommies started the game ahead 11-8 after sophomore guard Jade Hill assisted four different players on the team’s first four baskets. Hill attributed her passing ability to her teammates’ ability to run down the court during transition.
“We want to push the tempo and push the ball up,” Hill said. “I think my teammates did a really good job running the floor, calling for it and telling me to keep my eyes up.”
Hill ended the game with seven of the team’s 18 assists from Opichka and senior guard Maggie Negaard adding three apiece. Sinn said she was pleased with the passing ability and playmaking of the team’s guards and has noticed great improvement in Hill.
“That’s the thing we need from our point guards and we keep talking to them about getting into that decision zone and trying to find people,” Sinn said. “I thought Jade did a much better job of not getting all the way to the basket, making those decisions earlier and hunting for her shooters.”
St. Thomas ended the first quarter down 20-18, but it quickly turned the game around with a 16-0 run to start the second.
“We’re starting to understand our identity, and playing 94 feet is one of them,” Sinn said.
Opichka was not content with the 6-point lead and helped the team achieve an 8-2 run at the start of the second half.
“I think last year we really struggled with that in the third quarter; we would come out slow,” Opichka said. “Our mentality is much better, and we’re ready to fight.”
Negaard led the opening run with four of the first eight points, making sure this game did not end the same as the last.
The Tommies fell in overtime to Idaho St. 58-54 on Dec. 3 despite leading by as many as 14 points.
“I actually mentioned Idaho State in one of our huddles tonight because we’ve had those 14-0 leads, and we lose it when we start thinking too much or we go stagnant” Negaard said.
The Mastodons outscored the Tommies in the third quarter by four, drawing within two points and cutting the Tommies’ lead.
St. Thomas began the final quarter with a run, outscoring Purdue Fort Wayne 12-2 in the first five minutes. Opichka’s 12-point performance in the fourth quarter stopped the Mastodons from mounting a comeback, sealing the game.
Sinn was pleased with Opichka’s play and said the sophomore is developing skills beneficial to the squad.
“She’s really understanding the gifts that she can bring, and she is locked in,” Sinn said.
Sinn is aware that the Tommies have a tough schedule as conference play nears, but is adamant that this game can serve as the kickstart the team needs for the rest of their season.
“We were being strong with the basketball, and we were pushing tempo, so we’re going to continue to try to build on that as we start preparing for Summit League play,” Sinn said.
The Tommies will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on Wisconsin at Kohl Center. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11.
“We’re going to make sure that we are strong and we are really owning our spots because they’re going to try to push us off,” Sinn said of the Badgers.
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.