Jimmies start 2-0

• Carly Jensen

(Dave Selvig / The Sun) Carly Jensen drives to the basket during Saturday’s game against Winnipeg University. The Jimmies defeated the Wesmen 79-59 to start the season 2-0.

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Hannah Steele and Bridget Schuneman have been playing together since they were kindergarteners.

The chemistry they have on the court is no coincidence.

Saturday, the pair combined for 42 points, with matching 21-point games, as 11th-ranked Jamestown College capped off a 2-0 weekend with a 79-59 win over Winnipeg University in the final game of the Jimmie Classic.

Steele, who also had a game-high five assists, knows where to go with the ball.

“No matter where you put it, Bridget always catches it,” said Steele, the Circle Pines, Minn., native. “She’s amazing, but it’s always been that way.”

Schuneman, from Lino Lakes, Minn., piled up her 21 points in just 22 minutes as the Jimmies pulled away in the second half and continued to run fresh bodies at their opponent.

“Was it pretty? No. But we got a couple of wins,” JC head coach Greg Ulland said. “I thought we competed really well, but we obviously have some stuff to fix, but we knew that’d be the case.”

One thing they don’t have to worry about is the play of Amber Ramlo, who turned in another monster game with six points, 14 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. The former Blue Jay pulled down 33 boards in the two victories.

“She’s a beast,” Ulland said of Ramlo. “She’s getting it done out there big time.”

Same certainly is true of Steele, who triggered the Jimmies potent offense from her point guard spot.

“We have so many girls that are good. Really, it makes it pretty easy. All I have to do is get it to them and they do the rest,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun out there.”

Nine Jimmies scored. Morgan Mathison was in double figures with 10 points. Carly Jensen added eight and Kayla Roemmich tossed in seven off the bench.

The level of competition will take a big step up this weekend for the Jimmies. They head to Iowa to face Dordt on Friday followed by a showdown with 3-time defending NAIA champion Northwestern on Saturday. The Jimmies beat the Red Raiders in Jamestown last season, but Northwestern took it when the two teams squared off in the Sweet 16 at nationals.

“We’ll find out where we’re at,” Ulland said. “It’s still really early, but they’re big games for us.”

The point guard agreed.

“I wouldn’t want to get ready any other way than to go up against my teammates like we do every day in practice,” Steele said. “It will be a challenge, of course, but we’ll be ready.”

Jamestown College 79, Winnipeg University 59

Winnipeg 30 29 — 59

Jamestown College 39 40 — 79

Winnipeg: Lauren Anderson 8, Stephanie Leysen 7, Katie Waring 4, Megan Noonan 7, Alex Warburton 2, Kelsey Solarchuk 2, Yael Kaplan 2, Kerri Kuzbyt 6, Tia Coulter 2, Alyssa Grant 9, Danielle Baril 2, Taylor Thorkelsson 8. Totals: 21-71 FG, Three-pointers: 4-12 (Grant 3, Noonan), 13-17 FT, 41 Rebounds (Kleysen 7), 23 Fouls, 13 Assists (Anderson 3, Kleysen 3), 12 Turnovers, 6 Blocked shots (Anderson 3), 5 Steals (5 with 1).

Jamestown College: Amber Ramlo 6, Bridget Schuneman 21, Hannah Steele 21, Carly Jensen 8, Morgan Mathison 10, Kadie Savage 2, Maggie Seter 1, Kayla Roemmich 7, Megan Pold 3. Totals: 24-63 FG, Three-pointers: 5-12 (Steele 2, Jensen 2, Mathison), 26-33 FT, 54 Rebounds (Ramlo 14), 20 Fouls, 17 Assists (Steele 5), 15 Turnovers, 4 Blocked shots (Ramlo 3), 7 Steals (Ramlo 3).

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jimmies, basketball