At first,
Stephanie Soares couldn't understand why her free throw near the end of Thursday's third quarter had drawn such fanfare.
Master's coach
Dan Waldeck called timeout after Soares made the first of two shots from the line, and TMU's PA announcer informed the crowd – and Soares – of the moment's significance. Referees swapped out the game ball so Soares, a sophomore, would have a souvenir of scoring her 1,000th career point as a Mustang.
"I didn't know what was going on," said Soares, who finished with game highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds in TMU's 92-46 win over OUAZ. "And then coach is like, 'I don't think I told you,' and I was like, 'I don't think you did.' But it's pretty exciting.'"
Hannah Ostrom,
Brooke Bailey and
Caitlin Monten each added 11 points for No. 3 Master's, which improved to 21-1 overall and 9-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play, good for a share of first place with Westmont.
Soares reached Thursday's milestone in only 56 games. She is one of 16 players in program history to compile 1,000 points – not that she was aware of any of it entering the night.
"I love the fact that she didn't even know, or really care, about the achievement," Waldeck said. "She's totally focused on our team's success. But to already reach that milestone speaks to her consistency and abilities that God has blessed her with."
Bailey, who made three of TMU's 13 three-pointers, said Soares' success is due to far more than her 6-foot-6 stature.
"She's always in the gym," Bailey said. "She's the first one there and the last one to leave, and just her tenacity on the court is just so evident and the grit she plays with every time she touches the ball. She puts in the work and it shows."
Master's led by 20 at halftime after holding the Spirit (10-8, 3-7) without a made field goal in the second quarter. And TMU extended its lead from there. The Mustangs moved the ball for wide-open looks in the third period, with Ostrom,
Anika Neuman,
Tristen Coltom and
Rebekah Throns each knocking down a three-pointer. The team shot 50% from the field in the quarter.
"I think that's what is so unique about our team," Bailey said, "we have so much depth. Anyone can go off on any given night and if one person's off, we know another person will step up."
Coltom finished with nine points, Neuman added eight and Throns had seven. Bailey said the game opened up offensively for the Mustangs as they fed the ball inside to their post players. Soares had eight points in the third on 3-of-5 shooting. She sat out most of the fourth quarter.
Ostrom, who has scored in double figures in five straight games, does not believe this will be the last milestone of Soares' career, not by a long shot.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she's celebrating 3,000 points before she graduates," Ostrom said.
