Photo by: Frank Fortune - Georgia Southern Athletics
W. BASKETBALL: It’s Gotta Be the Shoes
1/9/2014 8:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. – Anna Claire Knight was getting some shots up during the Georgia Southern women's basketball shootaround at the Pete Hanna Center Monday afternoon when she noticed something wrong with her shoe.
"Light was shining through the bottom, and there was kind of a rip in the bottom," she said.
Six hours until game time. Not good.
"Nobody wears my size so I figured I'd just have to wear them," she said.
Knight did just that until the first media timeout.
"My foot was kind of sliding around, and it was very uncomfortable," she said.
Luckily, forward Brittney Benzio's shoes were available. The senior is working her way back from an injury and has suited up and taken warm ups with the team for the last three games. Knowing she would not be playing, Benzio switched shoes with Knight at the first media timeout.
There was only one problem.
"They are a size too big so it looked like I had elephant feet out there," said Knight.
No offense to Britt, of course.
"They felt bigger," said Knight. "When I was running, I could see them out of the bottom of my eye. I had to lace them up a little bit tighter than she had them."
What Knight and the rest of the Eagles did the remainder of the night became program firsts. Knight recorded the first triple-double in program history with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Georgia Southern won for the first time in six tries at Samford, 64-61.
The Eagles overcame a 10-point deficit in the final eight minutes, and Knight broke a 59-59 tie when she drove to the bucket, laid it in and drew a foul with 1:01 to go. The junior made the free throw to put the Eagles up three.
"I saw the help side clear out, so I decided to reject the screen, and I had a clear lane to the basket," said Knight. "When they called the And-1, I got excited."
After Samford pulled to within one point, the Eagles drew the next play up for Knight as well. She tried a long jumper that hit the back rim and came off, but Sierra Kirkland was there for the rebound. MiMi DuBose sank two free throws with 16 seconds left, and Samford's desperation 3-point try was off.
Back in the locker room, Knight had no idea of her achievement until somebody handed her the box score.
"I was passing it to open people who were knocking down shots," said Knight. "In my head, I was thinking 'they are not finding us in transition' so I was passing it ahead, but I had no idea that I was close to a triple double. I didn't think I had that many rebounds too. So when I found out after the game, it was a surprise."
What about the shoes?
"It was a little too uncomfortable to wear them all the time, but I did order a new pair and I am going to move up half a size," she said.
The Eagles registered 16 assists as a team against Samford, but the biggest one didn't make the box score.
It belongs to Brittney Benzio.
"Light was shining through the bottom, and there was kind of a rip in the bottom," she said.
Six hours until game time. Not good.
"Nobody wears my size so I figured I'd just have to wear them," she said.
Knight did just that until the first media timeout.
"My foot was kind of sliding around, and it was very uncomfortable," she said.
Luckily, forward Brittney Benzio's shoes were available. The senior is working her way back from an injury and has suited up and taken warm ups with the team for the last three games. Knowing she would not be playing, Benzio switched shoes with Knight at the first media timeout.
There was only one problem.
"They are a size too big so it looked like I had elephant feet out there," said Knight.
No offense to Britt, of course.
"They felt bigger," said Knight. "When I was running, I could see them out of the bottom of my eye. I had to lace them up a little bit tighter than she had them."
What Knight and the rest of the Eagles did the remainder of the night became program firsts. Knight recorded the first triple-double in program history with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Georgia Southern won for the first time in six tries at Samford, 64-61.
The Eagles overcame a 10-point deficit in the final eight minutes, and Knight broke a 59-59 tie when she drove to the bucket, laid it in and drew a foul with 1:01 to go. The junior made the free throw to put the Eagles up three.
"I saw the help side clear out, so I decided to reject the screen, and I had a clear lane to the basket," said Knight. "When they called the And-1, I got excited."
After Samford pulled to within one point, the Eagles drew the next play up for Knight as well. She tried a long jumper that hit the back rim and came off, but Sierra Kirkland was there for the rebound. MiMi DuBose sank two free throws with 16 seconds left, and Samford's desperation 3-point try was off.
Back in the locker room, Knight had no idea of her achievement until somebody handed her the box score.
"I was passing it to open people who were knocking down shots," said Knight. "In my head, I was thinking 'they are not finding us in transition' so I was passing it ahead, but I had no idea that I was close to a triple double. I didn't think I had that many rebounds too. So when I found out after the game, it was a surprise."
What about the shoes?
"It was a little too uncomfortable to wear them all the time, but I did order a new pair and I am going to move up half a size," she said.
The Eagles registered 16 assists as a team against Samford, but the biggest one didn't make the box score.
It belongs to Brittney Benzio.
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