Friday, January 27, 2006

Opponents know Belmont University’s Jenny Conkle (New Haven, Ind.) well after she led NCAA Division I in three-pointers made per game last season.

“They know where she is on the floor,” Bruins coach Tony Cross said. “They always put their best defender on her. They find her early in our offense and they stay pretty close to her.”

Conkle, a Concordia graduate, was averaging 2.4 three-pointers made a game before Thursday’s game, down from her 3.1 a game that led the nation last season. She did not rank among the Division I leaders through Monday. She crept into the ranking as recently as two weeks ago, when she was 24th in the nation at 2.7 per game.

While defenses have focused on her, Conkle has stepped up her play in other areas. The senior guard has become a better defender, post feeder and leader, Cross said.