Marauders Cage Bulldogs In Their Own Back Yard

After battling the beavers just the day before this weekend was a huge in terms of needing wins in the conference standings.  All the top teams in the league were playing each other at some point and this was our chance to move up in conference play.  We approached this game hungrier then we have ever been on a road trip seeing it as we beat the University of Minnesota-Duluth last time we played them here at home and we knew they would do their best to get us back.  I approached this game how I would any other games with pregame preparations and things of that nature but with a little twist this time.  I am still not sure why I altered my rountine but it seemed to workout for the better in this case.  Typically before i game i get my music set on the song "Monster" by Kanye West featuring a number of other artists listen to that, stretch and don't talk to anybody, but this time it was different.  I was as focused as I always am before a game but I felt more relaxed this time, and it wasn't just me it seemed as if everybody felt this way.  When it came to game time we came out firing, got an early lead and from that point never looked back.  There is always a certain amount of trash talking that goes out there on the court while people are competing and everyone wants to win and this game was no exception.  One of their gaurds in particular had a lot to say to me but the thing i remember most was when i caught the ball in the corner and he backed off me a little and said "shoot it".  Daring me to pull the trigger as if I couldn't shoot, little did he know I was planning on shooting it anyways.  I never looked back from that point on.  I went on to score a career high 19 points including 12 straight that I did not know I even did until Scott informed me of it when I was on Marauders Weekly.  Everything just felt good that night and I was because all of my immediate family was in attendance.  After the games the guys joked around with me calling me "Showtime" or "Superstar" and they still kept it going on the bus ride and this morning.  We played great as a team on offense and defense and it feels even better to be on an 8 game wining streak.  We have two more games this weekend at home against the University of Minnesota-Crookston and Moorhead State University.  All the guys are excited to play in the games this weekend and hopefully Cameron Lee will make more steps in recovery over the course of this week.  As for me, I'm out to help my team win and prove that the performance last week was not a freak performance, maybe more of a preview of what to expect from me in the games to come.

UMary Hoops Knocks Off Mankato State

The mood in the before the Mankato State game this past Saturday was not the usual atmosphere of any other game we have had this year.  Everybody seemed more focused then usual and for more then one particular reason specifically.  After we had just beaten Southwest State the night earlier everybody knew this was a big chance to make a statement to every other team in our league and to the entire country.  Coach Herbst was on edge but was just as confident as usual and before the game addressed the team stating the fact that in the history of University of Mary basketball no one team had ever beaten Mankato.  This in a way was an even bigger game for one of our assistant coaches Jevin Budde seeing as he graduated from Mankato State this was a very emotional game for him as well.  I did my pre game preparations like I usually do and as much as I like to treat all teams in the same way effort wise i was more excited for this game then I have been for a game all year.  Even in warm ups you could see it in everybody's eyes that they were ready to go.  As soon as the game started it ended, Anthony Moody shot the ball in a way that i have never seen in my life time of watching college basketball and the whole team seemed to be clicking on all cylinders.  Even on the bench people were excited the whole game no matter what our lead was at the time.  Not only did we end up beating Mankato State who at the time was ranked 10th in the country but we blew them out on our home floor in front of all our dedicated fans and supporters.  I don't think we have personally been closer as a team and a family then we were that game.  Cameron Lee went down with an ankle injury during the game but even he was optimistic after that big of a win.  We hope to get him back as soon as possible and all wish him a speedy recovery.  After the game coach Herbst was almost lost for words as you could see the excitement in him and how proud of us he was for playing so well and playing to our potential.  Everybody is looking forward to our next road game this coming weekend at Northern State as we look to improve our record and accomplish even more.