If you look simply at the scoring numbers, it might appear as if St. Mary's All-Metro forward Annetta Davis is having an off year.
But there's something you just won't find in her 12.8 points per game.
A desire to do whatever it takes to win.
Yesterday in leading the host and seventh-ranked Saints to a 64-48 Catholic League victory over No. 16 Mount de Sales, the 5-foot-10 senior showed how many ways she can affect the outcome of a ballgame.
Offensively, Davis -- who averaged over 21 points last season -- scored 17, coming alive in the second half to take over the game.
But her 15 rebounds and nine assists -- mainly to Saints scoring leader Tara Foran (18 points) -- helped put away the upset-minded Sailors.
After the graduation of playmaker Bridget Smith, Davis says she's tried harder to make things happen on the offensive end.
"We just need someone who can bring the ball up fast, and if we can't do that, someone has to help," said Davis. "I feel I can do that. I've scored my share of points, but now I'm just trying to work on my assists and rebounds, and trying to give Tara [Foran] the opportunity to score like I did when I was a junior."
Foran did just that yesterday, doing the bulk of her work on the inside. Along with guard Kris Miller (16 points), the Saints' 5-10 forward was instrumental in helping her team build a 19-6 lead after the first quarter.
But Mount de Sales (3-3 overall, 0-3 in the league) hung tough, taking command in the second quarter and scoring the first six points of the third quarter to pull within one at 25-24. Ana Martinez (18 points) and center Amy Buck (12 points, 10 rebounds) led the charge.
That, however, was as close as the Sailors would get.
After scoring just two points in the first half, Davis keyed a 12-1 St. Mary's run midway through the third quarter that put away the game. She did her best work when getting passes near the foul line and driving in for the layup.
"She just took over the game," said Saints coach Harry Dobson, whose team improved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the league. "She's been in foul trouble a lot this season so we've had to sit her out a lot. But down the stretch they couldn't stop her."
And the Sailors' 18 turnovers and poor shooting didn't help.
"We didn't play our best game," said coach Bill Held. "Our girls got a little tired and lost a little bit of their pressure.
"But I'm still happy with the way we played. If we can score 48 points against a team like St. Mary's every game, I'll take that."