One thing Bowling Green coach Calvin Head really likes about sophomore forward Meadow Tisdale is her “winning mindset” and it certainly showed during Wednesday’s 50-48 double overtime win over Bishop Brossart at the state tournament in Rupp Arena.
“She exerts so much energy on the defensive end,” Head said. “The second half she attacked the basket like the way she does. She got big rebounds and had a big block at the end of overtime.”
Tisdale, who averages 14 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, finished with 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, four rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals in 39 minutes.
Athleticism and winning certainly is in her bloodline as her brother is University of Kentucky sophomore safety Vito Tisdale, a former Bowling Green standout.
“He is hard on me. He just wants me to be great,” Meadow Tisdale said.
Bowling Green had 10 losses coming into the state and Tisdale said the win validates the Purples belonged in Rupp Arena.
“It feels good (to win). We are trying to prove a lot of people wrong,” Tisdale said.
Head said Tisdale and junior center LynKaylah James, who had 15 points and 19 rebounds, did a “great job” keeping Brossart center Marie Kiefer, a Ball State signee, off the boards with their strength and athleticism.
“Kiefer is a load. If she got the ball, she would kill us,” Head said.
Kiefer got her fourth foul late in the third quarter and then fouled out with 5:33 left in regulation and Brossart leading 35-30 just one minute after she came back into the game. She was on the verge of a triple double despite an off shooting game (3-for-13) due to Bowling Green’s pressure on her. She finished with seven points, 10 rebounds and nine blocked shots along with three assists and one steal in just 23 minutes. She averages 21 points per game.
Brossart coach Kevin Bundy made no excuses after the bitter loss and said his team “knew what we have to do to win games” even with Kiefer out with fouls.
“Nobody wanted to play without Marie but that’s the hand we were dealt,” Bundy said. “When you have a player of her caliber you run the offense through her. It’s hard to duplicate what she can do.
“Marie has great athletic ability and God blessed her with a lot of gifts. But you don’t see how hard she works. She has added a piece to her game all four years and is a complete player. Triple-doubles do not surprise us with Marie.”
Kiefer said she had “a lot of trust” her teammates could get the win without her.
“It was really tough having to watch and not able to help or anything,” Kiefer said.
Bowling Green will play Sacred Heart, a winner over Knott County Central, at 11 a.m. EST Friday in the quarterfinals.
