Waldeck earns 200th win in Fullerton

Dan Waldeck was searching for some answers.
 
The 10^th-year head coach was looking for something to snap his team out of the doldrums of two losses in three games as the end of the regular season fast approached.
 
He found it Thursday night in a 79-69 victory over Hope International.
 
It was balance.
 
As in six players scoring at least eight points or more in a victory that was the 200^th of the coach's career at TMU.
 
"We had solid production from up and down the lineup," commented Waldeck.  "The ladies did a great job!"
 
More importantly, it clinched at least the No. 5 seed in the upcoming GSAC Tournament, improving the Mustangs to 7-6 in conference play and 18-8 overall.

During a decade at the helm, our Head Coach is averaging 20 wins per year! pic.twitter.com/orf0psxONB

— TMU Athletics (@TMUAthletics) February 23, 2018

 
"I'm so proud of this group," said Waldeck.  "They've continued to fight through the ups and downs of the season.  To see them be their best when their best is demanded is outstanding."
 
Some of that balance was on display in a tightly-contested first quarter that featured eight lead changes and a 15-all score at the buzzer.  Four Mustangs scored in the quarter, including five points from Anika Neuman, whose three-pointer with 2:29 left in the quarter gave the Mustangs a 15-14 lead.
 
Hannah Forrar's three-pointer 36 seconds into the second stanza unlocked the tie and the Mustangs never trailed in the quarter. 
 
Hope International refused to go away, though, tying the game at 18-all and then pulling within one point on four occasions.
 
The last time was at 28-27 before the Mustangs ran off six straights to carve out their largest lead of the half.  Hannah Throns sparked the burst with a layup and Jamilee Iddings made it a 34-27 game with a jumper at the 2:50 mark.
 
The Mustangs withstood a late Royal rush and led at the break 41-37.
 
TMU, led by Hannah Ostrom's 10 first-half points, shot at a red-hot 70% (16-23) clip over the opening 20 minutes.
 
Those numbers didn't get duplicated in the second half.  However, the Mustangs created even more separation with defense.
 
They limited the Royals to 4-14 shooting and 11 points in the third quarter.
 
Meanwhile, the Mustangs used an 8-0 run to build a 56-45 lead.  Consecutive three-pointers from Tristen Coltom fueled the burst and Rebekah Throns finished it with a layup.
 
The Mustangs led 56-48 after three.
 
That cushion held up over the final 10 minutes as the Royals never closer than six points.
 
Closing out a win on a foreign court was big for the Mustangs, who forged five 10-point leads in the last quarter, including the final score.
 
The Mustangs wound up shooting 54% from the field while holding the Royals to 38% accuracy.
 
Sabrina Thompson, who went 9-10 from the line, and Forrar led a quartet of Mustangs in double figures with 14 points apiece.  Neuman tossed in 11 points and Ostrom finished with 10 more.
 
After avenging an earlier loss to the Royals, the Mustangs hope to make it two in a row over No. 9 Vanguard on Saturday evening when they travel to Costa Mesa to close out the regular season.
 
Back on January 25, the Mustangs beat the Lions handily, 75-62.