By Tim Rath

ROCHESTER — Following a Jan. 19 loss to IPFW, the Oakland University women’s basketball team just hadn’t looked like itself.

The Golden Grizzlies seemed to be playing a different style than the team that went 12-4 before the trip to IPFW which began their 2-5 skid.

On Saturday, the Grizzlies appeared to turn things around, as they topped IPFW 79-65 by forcing fouls and playing tough defense.

“It’s ‘the Cobra,'” said junior guard April Kidd of a nickname born from her tenacious defense. “I move when they’re not expecting it.” 

Kidd struck early with aggressive defense in the first half, as two open-court steals led to fast-break opportunities and a 40-31 lead at the break. 

Kidd continued to fill up the stat sheet, finishing with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore guard Melissa Jeltema led OU with 16 points and 13 rebounds, notching her sixth double-double of the season. Senior Charlese Greer and junior Jessica Pike both chipped in 15 points, while freshman Anna Pattrino scored 11 and grabbed five rebounds starting in place of sophomore Hanna Reising, who is day-to-day with a sore foot.

“We’ve been preaching to Anna all week that, ‘You are a stud,'” said head coach Beckie Francis. “She really showed it … Her attacking early took all kinds of pressure off of Pike in the second half.” 

The Grizzlies’ second half was much like the first, as they dominated in the paint. Their lead rarely fel

l below 10 points. OU pushed the lead to as many as 17 in the closing seconds after a flurry of jump shots from Pike, before a last-second basket by IPFW closed the gap to 15.

The victory was emotional for Francis as the Grizzlies have maintained a position in the top half of the Summit League standings, withstanding a flood of injuries.

“It’s indescribable how good this win feels with the adversity we’ve gone through,” she said. “We have Bible study with Fellowship for Christian Athletes … (Greer) led it this week, and she picked a really great verse about how adversity teaches endurance, and endurance teaches character, and character produces hope.”

“I just want to be … the spark,” Greer said. “I like to attack the basket, its part of my role as a person on the team to bring energy offensively and defensively.”

The Grizzlies have every right to be hopeful when Greer is in the game. The win pushes their record to 10-0 on the year when she scores 10 or more points, while her defense frustrated the taller IPFW front court.

OU out-rebounded IPFW by a margin of 52-27, and forced 10 steals. The win pushes their record to 15-9 overall, 8-6 within the Summit League.

The Grizzlies’ next challenge is against IUPUI, Saturday at the O’Rena at 3:30 p.m.