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Flu Bug Can't Stop Saint Leo Women

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 16, 2008

ST. LEO - About 24 hours before Wednesday's women's basketball game against Sunshine State Conference leader Tampa, Saint Leo coach Chanita Olds arrived at practice and found six players ready to play.

Olds saw it coming, as a campus-wide flu bug was wreaking havoc on her roster. Players were going to walk-in clinics, reporting 102-degree fevers and struggling to stay hydrated.

Concerned, she e-mailed Athletic Director Fran Reidy and told him, "It's looking bad." But her message to the team was more optimistic.

"I kept telling my kids, we're being challenged. Things happen for a reason," Olds said. "And I kept telling them about the game plan, things that we have to do. And I told them, 'You have to bring the dog to the fight.' "

That's what the Lions did. Despite playing without leading scorers Amanda Holloway, Latasha Lawrence and Monique Reynard, Saint Leo rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Tampa 75-73 in overtime. The victory kept alive hopes that SLU (11-11, 4-7) could earn a top-four seed in the SSC Tournament.

One of the players who missed practice due to illness Tuesday, Nichole Tyler, turned out to be perhaps the biggest contributor Wednesday. Cleared to play hours before the game, the junior college transfer scored a game-high 27 points, making six of eight 3-pointers.

"Everyone contributed. Everyone made me shoot the 3s," Tyler said. "I was sick a little bit, but I knew I had to suck it up and come help my team. I knew a lot of people were out."

The game-winner was scored by Melissa Guerero, one of the few not affected by the flu. She finished with 22 points.

Olds became so desperate for bodies that she found volleyball player Natalie Gaudreau and asked if she could join the squad on short notice. She agreed, and Olds had to give her the No. 32 jersey worn by Marquita Fenn the previous two years.

Most of the players are expected to return for today's game at Nova Southeastern, but Holloway could be out until next week.

TIRED OF TURNAROUNDS: The men's basketball team also scored an upset victory against Tampa on Wednesday, 83-79. But Coach Mike Madagan is tired of proclaiming a single win as the one that should signal a turnaround. Saint Leo (11-11, 4-7) plays at Nova Southeastern (9-13, 4-7) tonight.

"It's in my craw, I can't get it out," Madagan said. "You can ask them my demeanor, I've had enough. I'm tired of talking about, 'We were close, we were this, we were that.' No more excuses. We're not where we need to be in the league because we haven't played with that kind of passion consistently. We did Wednesday."

It seems the players are tired of talking as well. Forward Jordan Prais, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds Wednesday, often working against the SSC's leading rebounder, Jeremy Black.

"It's about want and will," Prais said.

Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampa-
SAINT LEO SHORTS

HONOR ROLL: Softball freshman Amanda Patrick (player) and junior Ashley Urbanik (pitcher) were named Sunshine State Conference players of the week. Patrick hit .714 with one home run, three RBIs and two runs in her first two college games, wins against Arkansas-Monticello. In those games, Urbanik allowed no earned runs and had 20 strikeouts in 11 innings.

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN: Several events were canceled or postponed this week because of rain. The softball team's Tuesday doubleheader against Valdosta State has not been rescheduled. In addition, the men's tennis match at Florida Southern on Tuesday was rescheduled for Monday afternoon. But first, the Lions men will face Barry this morning at 11 at the Saint Leo tennis courts.

KEEP AN EYE ON: The baseball team, coming off a 24-run explosion against West Florida, is playing Palm Beach Atlantic in a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m.

Bart O'Connell

trib.com.

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