OREM – Frustration is an ultimate debilitating feeling. It is the first step to losing any and all control in a world where total control is a rare commodity. Frustration leads to the easiest mistakes and the worst decisions. Frustration can be caused by many things, and a strong will demands the strength to overcome frustration.
While facing the Nevada Wolfpack, the Utah Valley women’s basketball dealt and battled with frustration through a physically-demanding match. And they came out on top 60-48.
As the game began, UVU was able to quickly set up their defense and keep the Wolfpack behind. This was a problem for both spectator and opponent alike as they moved quickly and overwhelmed the offense just as quickly. The first quarter ended with UVU up 19-11
In the second quarter, however, Nevada would come up with a counter of their own: foul-baiting. This caused that frustration mentioned earlier for the players and the Wolverine fans. Given the small, intimate quality of the UCCU Center, any and all complaints were readily audible.
Head coach Dan Nielson was one of the louder voices in the arena. A bad play from the Wolverines signifies a loud groan from Nielson, followed up by a quick bit of advice. When a play works, when a defensive effort is successful, he’s just as loud with his approval.
“We build those relationships so they know when I do push them and get on them and call them out on things that it’s from a place of belief and love and not just me yelling for the sake of yelling,” said coach Nielson, who is a very smiley person off the court.
With the constant foul-trouble pressure the Wolfpack was putting on his starters, specifically Cambree Blackham, a usual star among the Wolverines, Nielson was complaining loudly to both the refs and his team: “It’s the only way these guys are staying in the game, it’s fouls, c’mon guys.”
Coach Nielson attributes this to the fact that he can attempt to encourage the referees to make different calls. He does this so his team can keep playing and let him “be the crazy person.”
This frustration at the “bad calls” which was loudly described by the spectators, was certainly a mountain for UVU to climb. At the end of the first half, the score was 35-28 with the Wolverines ahead.
Headed into the locker room, the goal was clear: stop the fouling.
“We just knew that [foul baiting] was the biggest reason why they were up,” said freshman sensation Olivia Stephens. “We were doing almost everything right. We just got some bad calls. So it was just, play cleaner, play harder, and being able to adjust to that and fix that helped us a lot.”
And to their credit, it’s safe to say that they did play cleaner. In the second half, the Wolverines were able to keep Nevada away from the charity stripe for the most part and swam ahead, thanks to Stephens, who ended the night with 17 points, the most on the court.
It was after this shift, that it almost felt like Nevada was dealing with their own frustration. The match turned a more physical page in the last half. While driving up for a lay up, Elizabeth Gentry missed her shot and tried for the rebound, but was knocked to the floor by Alexis Swillis, after another look from the refs this was upgraded to a flagrant one. Both free throw shots were missed and the score was 49-41.
The Wolverines are able to find their footing, they are back to their slow, methodical defensive pressure. They are back to forcing turnovers, for which they are ranked 7th nationally. With two minutes left, the score is 57-46.
In the last few possessions, Nevada takes many shots in the paint, just short of the rim, as if anticipating and looking for the foul call. They do score like this, but only once more as Utah Valley dribbles the ball out and wins the game 60-48.
“We scheduled this schedule to get us ready for the Big West. I think it creates a culture and a mindset that regardless of if you’re playing somebody in our conference or you’re playing Utah, it doesn’t make a difference,” said coach Nielson. “We play how we play and we know we can hang with them and find a way to win. Hopefully we can keep believing that and be ready for next week.”
Their next game is in Salt Lake against the 4-0 University of Utah on Nov 20th.
