Green Devils let defense do the work in win over Rebels

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
Published December 20, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - To get a sense of just how good St. Petersburg's defense was Wednesday night against Dixie Hollins, consider this: After going ahead 8-0 early in the game, the Green Devils could have gone scoreless until the final minute of the third quarter and still had the lead.

"We pride ourselves on our defense," St. Petersburg coach Ryan Halstead said.

Because of that, this win was one for which the Green Devils can be proud.

In the 47-20 victory, the team's seventh straight win, St. Petersburg's man-to-man defense was relentless. The Green Devils (10-3) had 18 steals and held Dixie Hollins (6-6) to six field goals - one in the first half.

"A lot of times they couldn't get shots off," Halstead said.

The Green Devils' plan was simple.

"We wanted to stop (Dixie Hollins forward Tori Robison)," Halstead said. "She's really a good shooter, so what we wanted to do was make her work for everything and see if anybody else could knock it down."

Guarded closely by forward LaToya Davis, Robison scored 10 points (four below her average). Her teammates, however, combined for only three field goals.

St. Petersburg's stifling defensive pressure often led to in-the-paint opportunities at the other end. There, Jazmyne Green (13 points) and Davis (12) did most of their damage as the Green Devils built a 14-3 lead after one quarter and moved ahead 22-5 at the break.

"We're a very athletic team," Davis said. "We knew we could score anytime we wanted."

[Last modified December 20, 2007, 00:43:25]