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Dispatch

OHIO STATE WOMEN?S BASKETBALL
No letdown with freshman guards
Moeller, Little contribute defensively, offensively

Friday, November 17, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




Ohio State freshmen guards Maria Moeller and Shavelle Little came through their first college basketball game Sunday at Army largely unscathed. The two thrived more often than not during a 77-41 victory.
After the win, coach Jim Foster praised the "ball pressure" the two kept on the Black Knight guards. During media interviews yesterday, Foster added the offense that Moeller and Little supplied to the positive side of the ledger.
"We had six assists and three turnovers coming out of the point guard position," Foster said. "That would be equal to the constant ball pressure. So they took care of
"I think it was pretty much what I expected," Moeller said. "The atmosphere was great. Just to play in an atmosphere like that was a great experience. The upperclassmen helped us stay calm and just play like we normally play."
Little tried to treat the experience like any other she has had on the court.
"It was basketball for me," she said. "I expected everything to go the way it did. I think I did OK. I think I?m capable of doing better. Everyone has a strength. For me, it?s defense. I?m going to continue to pressure the ball and continue to build on everything else."
Ohio State plays Boston College at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Value City Arena, and plays host to Cornell, Montana and Davidson in the Buckeye Classic on Nov. 25 and 26 in St. John Arena.

jmassie@dispatch.com
the ball on offense and were disruptive on defense."
Moeller and Little will see guards as quick as they are at noon Sunday when No. 7 Ohio State (1-0) plays host to No. 19 Southern California (1-0) in Value City Arena. That can be an eye-opening experience for freshmen. Foster figures that practice sessions already have introduced Moeller and Little to that next gear.
"If you don?t have people that can pressure the ball in practice, and the first time you get pressured is in a game scenario, there?s a tendency to get rattled for sure," Foster said. "But playing against each other in practice has made them better. It?s not as much of a shock effect." Moeller started the opener. She had five points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds. Little came off the bench and contributed two points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal. Both had fun.