Different breed for Bulldogs

Tournament time is perfect for Juliann Laney.

The Gonzaga wing was overshadowed as the Bulldogs dispatched Brigham Young in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday.

But when the Bulldogs take the court tonight at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., Laney will open with the responsibility of guarding 5-foot-10 senior guard Jenni Lingor, who averages 19.6 points a game.

“Perfect,” the 5-foot-11 Laney said. “I like the responsibility of it.”

The Lady Bears (21-8) are a sharp contrast to BYU, which boasted good size.

“They love the 3,” GU coach Kelly Graves said. “Their top three scorers are guards. They have good skills.”

Leading the way is Lingor, the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

“She can drive it, shoot it, rebound,” Graves said. “She’s a great athlete, tough to guard.”

Kari Koch, a 5-8 junior, averages 14.7 points and 6-foot Nichole Lehmen adds 10.9. Linger averages 6.3 rebounds and Lehman 5.7.

“They have a spread out, cutting, curling team that is pretty successful,” GU assistant Jennifer Mountain, who broke down film of the Lady Bears, said. “Their overall speed isn’t great but they’re quick, especially a couple guards. They have a good first step, they penetrate really well and they just slash and cut really well. That’s their basic staple, constant movement, move the ball on the outside and looking to penetrate, usually penetrate and kick to another guard.”

SMS has pumped up 150 more 3s than the Zags and shoot a much higher percentage. Three Lady Bears have more than 50 3s, two more have more than 30.

“We’ll have to play really good perimeter defense,” Mountain said. “I think they probably have the edge overall with the guards.” Tiff Terwelp, a 6-2 freshman, starts inside. She averages five points and five rebounds. Assietou Ndoye and Hannah Kirk, both 6-3, combine to average 23 minutes of play with minimal production.

The Lady Bears played a tough schedule with a 20-point loss at Richmond, three-point loss at Oklahoma and 12-point loss to Louisiana State, all NCAA Tournament teams.

The game will depend on matchups. Can an undersized SMS guard stop one of the taller Bulldogs or can a tall Bulldog keep up with a quick guard?

But it starts with keeping Lingor in check.

“It doesn’t make me too nervous,” Laney said. “I kind of like the idea of just going out and playing. I’d rather have as little information as possible.”