This Finn can finish.
Satu Puolitaival, one of three players from Finland on John Duncan’s Catawba College women’s basketball team, took her turn at being the star Saturday afternoon, leading the Indians to a 99-56 South Atlantic Conference victory over Newberry in Goodman Gym.
Puolitaival scored 14 of her game-high 16 points in the first half that saw the Indians completely overwhelm Seph Hatley’s Indians. But ask her about being a star and the unassuming 5-9 sophomore shrugs it off.
“It’s not like we depend on one or two players,” she said. “We have so many good players that anybody can have a great game.”
Therein lies the secret to what might just turn into one of the greatest teams in school history. With the win, Catawba (13-3, 5-0) solidified its first-place standing.
“I think we’ve got enough talent to go as far as they want to go,” Duncan said.
It was a rout from the very start. Vuokka Timola, another Finn, scored on a layup to open the game and it took just four minutes before Lakia Brice gave Catawba a 10-point cushion at 14-4.
Most of the credit went to the defense.
“Defensively, we’re able to turn the pressure up really quickly,” explained Duncan. “When we’re playing a running game and getting after it defensively, we get offense off defense. It gets a team on its heels a little bit and that’s what happened today.”
Hatley, who came to Newberry from Pfeiffer University, was shaking his head early but when Puolitaival entered the contest at the 15:32 mark of the first half, he probably wanted to pound it against the floor. Two minutes after she entered, her 21-foot 3-pointer made it 20-4. Two minutes later, another three. When she pulled up for a 12-footer, Catawba led 31-10.
By the end of the half, Puolitaival was 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-3 from long range.
And what did she have to say about her first half?
“Usually, I’m a defender first. I’ll score if I get the chance.”
Saturday was her chance.
“Since Satu came to us last year, we thought the potential was there,” Duncan said. “She had a stress fracture last year and lost some of her confidence. But the confidence is back now. She can do things going to the basket that amazes you.”
Speaking of amazing, so was the 5-6 Brice, but then again, she has been so amazing over the last four years, you sometimes overlook her efforts.
But in the Newberry win, she played her typical game: 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“Lakia quietly sneaks up on people and takes advantage of them,” chuckled Duncan. “That’s the only way I know how to put it. She always gets it done.”
Catawba was coming off a big win at Wingate that gave the Indians sole possession of first in the SAC. Against a Newberry team floundering at 0-5 in the league (and 4-11 overall), it would be the perfect time for a letdown.
And Duncan realized it.
“The big word today was quality,” he said. “We didn’t want to drop the quality of our play because we weren’t playing somebody in the top three. We needed to get used to playing the same way all the time. They accepted that challenge and we challenged them again at halftime.”
The only challenge of the second half was to see if Catawba could reach the 100-point mark for the third time this season. Valerie Powell, Abby Hunjo and Cindy Turner scored late but the Indians fell a point short.
Now, Catawba travels to Presbyterian, the preseason favorite, Wednesday. Duncan will need another quality effort and it’s a good bet Puolitaival will help the Indians in that quest.
From start to Finnish.
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NOTES: Donna Carr had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals. ... Powell scored 10 off the bench as 13 different players scored in the fast-paced offense. “We like the up-tempo because it gets everybody involved and it makes it a little bit easier to come to practice,” said Duncan. ... Ella Pasola, yet another Finn, dished out eight assists. ... Duncan is 93-34 in five years.
NEWBERRY (56) — Crank 9, Smith 8, Cushman 8, Joplin 8, Tims 6, Maloney 5, Cook 5, Roseborough 4, Glanden 3.
CATAWBA (99) — Puolitaival 16, Brice 14, Carr 12, Powell 10, Locklear 8, Little 7, Buckland 6, Timola 5, Stockton 4, Mitchell 4, Turner 4, Hunjo 2.
Newberry 24 32 — 56
Catawba 52 47 — 99
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