No. 3 TMU beats La Sierra as Ostrom's resurgence continues

Her shots are falling, her rebounding is remarkable and people are taking notice.

"You're playing like an All-American," Master's head coach Dan Waldeck told Hannah Ostrom after the No. 3-ranked Mustangs put the finishing touches Tuesday on a 90-48 win over La Sierra inside The MacArthur Center.

Ostrom, a senior guard, finished with 19 points and five rebounds, teammate Stephanie Soares had 28 points and nine rebounds, and Sabrina Thompson added 14 points and seven assists.  

It was TMU's 13th straight victory to start the year, trailing only the 2012-13 season – when the Mustangs won their first 17 games – for the program's best start in recent history. And it was another demonstration of how far Ostrom has come from a junior year that didn't meet her standards.

Ostrom missed eight games after suffering an ankle injury early last season. After starting 27 games as a freshman and remaining a crucial part of the rotation as a sophomore, she posted career-lows nearly across the board as a junior. She never felt completely herself on the ankle – even if she didn't realize how much pain she'd been in until after she began playing this year on a healthy wheel.  

The difference has been obvious.

Ostrom is averaging a career-best 11.1 points on 45% shooting from behind the arc. She has scored in double figures in eight of her last nine games, also feeling the freedom to attack the paint and finish in traffic.  

"When I can't hit from the outside, I know I need to go get fouled or attack the basket," said Ostrom, who is shooting 50% from the floor overall. "So that gives me more confidence too, seeing the ball go in."

Ostrom has also had a considerable impact in terms of providing the Mustangs with extra offensive possessions. She had four offensive rebounds Tuesday and leads the team, even Soares, with 36.  

"I just love getting boards," Ostrom said. "I feel like that's a controllable part of the game. It's about effort."

Soares was exceptional again Tuesday, deterring the Golden Eagles (7-5) from attempting shots in the paint and running the floor for easy baskets in transition. The 6-foot-6 sophomore made 13-of-18 shots (2-of-3 from three), with three blocks, three assists and two steals. One block led to one of the day's highlights.

Soares swatted a shot around the free throw line, the ball bouncing around until Rebekah Throns fielded it and rushed up the court. Throns dribbled into the paint and lofted a pass over a defender and into the waiting hands of Soares, who laid it in. That pushed TMU's lead to 55-28 with 6:07 to play in the third quarter. The Mustangs would only extend their advantage from there, as they often have in non-conference games over the last three years.

During that span, Master's is 31-5 in non-Golden State Athletic Conference games. The Mustangs are 15-0 against La Sierra since 2003.

Master's held the Golden Eagles, a team it beat 71-53 on Nov. 19 playing without Soares, to 28% from the floor, and the Mustangs were strong in other areas as well.

The Mustangs outscored La Sierra 48-12 in the paint and 36-4 on points off turnovers. The Mustangs turned the ball over only 10 times, while forcing their guests into 21.  

Anika Neuman scored nine points in 18 minutes for the Mustangs, who won't play again until Dec. 28, the first day of the Jersey Mike's Classic at TMU. Ostrom made 7-of-10 shots, 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

"From day one, I've encouraged her, 'Remember who you are,'" Waldeck said of his message to Ostrom. "She's worked so hard, and she's been arguably one of our most consistent players. She's been scoring, defending, rebounding. She's doing it all. She's playing like a senior. I'm pumped for her. Couldn't happen to a better kid."