RallyNorth.net

Sun, Mar 02, 2008 01:00 PM @ Neutral Location - Southern New Hampshire University

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Playoff Game Division L Tournament - Quarterfinals
Pinkerton	8	8	7	10	33
Merrimack	6	7	14	10	37

Foul trouble, cold shooting dooms Astros

Monday, March, 03 By Ryan Lambert
Staff writer

HOOKSETT, N.H. | A tough day from the floor and three key players fouling out is a recipe for disaster.

It was just such a fate that befell fifth-seeded Pinkerton in its 37-33 loss to No. 4 Merrimack before 246 fans at Southern New Hampshire University in the quarterfinals of the Class L tournament yesterday.

Pinkerton was just 17 of 56 from the floor (30.3 percent) and 2 of 11 from the free-throw line (18.2) in an erratic defensive battle.

"The zone (defense) kind of shook us up a little bit," said senior guard Brittni Wilson, who led the Astros with 10 points. "We're not used to playing against the zone very much, but we had a tough shooting night too. The combination of the two really hurt us."

Neither team could find a rhythm offensively in the early stages of the game, with literally nothing dropping for the first five-plus minutes. That trend continued for more or less the entire half. The teams were a combined 8 of 52 from the floor and 6 of 19 from the line and combined for 26 turnovers in the opening 16 minutes. Pinkerton, though, did head to the locker room with a five-point lead.

"The first half was (more an offensive struggle than defensive battle)," said Pinkerton coach John Barry. "It was 18-13, and that's real low-scoring. We survive on defense and the defense played well enough (for a while)."

Things began to unravel in the third quarter when Pinkerton ran into serious foul trouble.

Wilson and A.J. Guidi (eight points) both had three fouls at halftime and were forced to sit out long stretches for fear of fouling out. Nikki Corso was whistled for three fouls in the third and all three fouled out in the fourth.

While Merrimack star forward Shannon Hassan, who led all scorers with 15 points, was finally getting hot (she scored seven points in the third), Pinkerton also went ice cold, going a full 6:02 between baskets.

"The ball wouldn't go in the basket," Barry said flatly. "We've had erratic games all year. This is no different."

Pinkerton clawed its way back, tying the game on Wilson's 3-pointer with 4:54 left, then pulling ahead 29-28 on a Jill Johnston free throw with 4:36 to go.

Afterwards, both teams started to commit fouls thanks to overly-aggressive defense, and free throw performance made all the difference.

Pinkerton was 1 of 6 from the line in the fourth quarter, while Merrimack | which had only nine field goals for the game | went 10 for 13. The Tomahawks' Claire Cole sank 6 of 7 to ice the game.

"When it was a big battle and both teams were going at it, that's when you've got to make the foul shots. We didn't," said Barry. "They went to the foul line and made them, we went to the foul line and missed them. That was the game right there. We make our foul shots like they made their foul shots and we win. We didn't, so we lose. In a close game, that's what happens."