Box Score
Jenny Kenesie is now the all-time win leader for head coaches in UW-Parkside women's basketball history. Kenesie, now with 137 career wins, surpassed Wendy Miller, after her Rangers edged Saint Joseph's College, 71-68. The Great Lakes Valley Conference game was played in UW-Parkside's DeSimone Gymnasium Thursday night.
“She is one of the best coaches in the country,” UW-Parkside assistant coach Brad Fischer told WRJN radio after the game. “Every positive accolade that comes her way is well deserved. I hope people appreciate how good of a coach she is. I love working for her.”
Kenesie's win was hard-fought down the stretch. Jasmine Reynolds of the Pumas hit a shot in traffic and was fouled with 34 seconds left. A made free throw would have knotted the game, but the shot was off the mark, leaving the Rangers with a precarious 69-68 advantage.
The Rangers milked the shot clock down to single digits when Kristen Ruchti came up big, scoring underneath with 6 seconds left for a three-point bulge. The Pumas quickly advanced the ball up court and took a timeout with 2.2 seconds left. The designed play had Britney Cruse launch a three-ball from the top of the key; however, it was deflected by Parkside's Amy Selk as time expired, preserving the victory.
The biggest run of the game came early. After Saint Joseph's vaulted to a 7-2 advantage, the Rangers strung together 15 straight points. The Pumas forged their way back into the game and trailed by three at 36-33 at intermission.
Ruchti , who played a large role in the final 4 minutes of the game, scored a dozen points along with teammates Brittany Beyer and Selk. Jadee Rooney led the Ranger scoring output with 19 points, 12 of which were in a hot-shooting first half.
Reynolds spearheaded the Puma effort with 24 points.
The Rangers have now won five in a row and are 11-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Saint Joseph's is 4-9 and 1-4 in the league.
The game was taped by Time-Warner Cable Channel 32. It will air Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday, Jan. 16, at 2:00 p.m. in much of eastern Wisconsin.
The Rangers will close out the home stand with a Saturday matinee against Illinois-Springfield Saturday, Jan. 8. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m. in the De Simone Gymnasium.
