Pirate Galaxy » .HEY, I KNOW YOUThe Mississippi

SAN MARTIN, Calif. -- When Gerina Piller hit her tee shot into a hazard and double-bogeyed the ninth hole at CordeValle Golf Club on Friday during the second round of the U.S. Womens Open, one interested and knowledgeable member of her gallery wasnt worried.Shell find a way to get it back, said her husband, Martin, who plays on the PGA Tour. I dont really get nervous watching her. Her game is pretty good.Indeed, it is. While Martin looked on in shorts and a T-shirt, protecting his fair complexion with a sun umbrella, Gerina did what she has done often recently: get in contention to win a tournament. Piller rallied quickly after making a 7 on No. 9 with two birdies on the next three holes. Two bogeys on the closing stretch gave her an even-par 72 and 36-hole total of 142.Being 2-under, I dont think Im far off, Piller said. There are some tough holes out there, and the wind can switch at any second. Thats the great thing about the U.S. Open. It keeps a lot of people in it.Piller, 31, is within striking distance of her first LPGA victory and also giving herself a shot at moving into the top 15 of the Rolex Rankings, from her current 16th position, and making the U.S. Olympic womens golf team when qualifying is finalized on Monday. Lexi Thompson (No. 4) and Stacy Lewis (No. 8) have locked up berths on the U.S. team. Jessica Korda (No. 24) is in position to make a big move after shooting 4-under for 36 holes, while Brittany Lincicome (No. 25) hurt her chances for a late surge after a 75-72 start.With a strong finish, Piller can also vault past Bo-Mee Lee of South Korea, who entered the weekend ranked No. 14 in the Rolex Rankings but missed the cut with a 6-over 150I think it would be a really big deal for me, personally, Piller said earlier this week of the Olympics. I love my country. I love America. And nothing gives me more honor than to put on the Stars and Stripes. And to have that honor, to represent your country at an event like that, would be pretty awesome.The highlight of Pillers career came last fall at the Solheim Cup, when, with a dramatic American comeback hanging in the balance, she sank a 10-foot par putt to beat Caroline Masson as the U.S. rallied from far behind to defeat Europe.Thats something shell remember the rest of her life, Martin said. Anytime youre playing for your country, it just means more. It was a time where she clutched it up and did something. Not only was it great for her but it was great for all the other girls. For them to come back from that deficit was pretty remarkable.Buoyed by coming through under extreme pressure, Piller has had three top-three finishes -- and four other top-10s -- this season, but is still looking for her first-career win. Martin, meanwhile, hasnt experienced victory on the PGA Tour yet, but has five career Web.com Tour wins.I wish I knew what that secret sauce was, Martin said. It seems like when you win a tournament, you save shots that you would normally waste. You get a ball up-and-down. Between finishing 10th and finishing first, theres not a ton of difference. Its frustrating when youre close to lead and dont pull it out, but at the same time, youre playing really well. And shes done a really good job of reminding herself that. Youre playing against the best in the world -- its going to be hard.Piller is trying to keep things simple and not let the Olympics situation complicate her mindset.That [the Olympics] is on the line, but thats something I cant control, Piller said. I cant control where I finish. I can control the process. And so thats kind of my main goal this week is just sticking with the process. And even with trying to win this tournament, thats obviously an outcome. And if I come in here giving every shot my all, with my ability I think that Ill be in contention and hopefully get my first win. And if I do, then that will definitely take care of that world ranking.If she does qualify for the Games, will she play given the concerns about health and safety in Brazil? She hasnt made up her mind yet, Martin said. Its kind of been like if she makes the team then shell cross that bridge. I dont know what shell decide. Knowing her, shell probably want to go and represent her country.The Pillers are spending the week at Juli Inksters home in Los Altos, California. Inkster, who captained the 2015 U.S. Solheim Cup team, is more than a Hall of Fame golfer and inspirational leader, according to Gerina.Shes actually a really good cook, believe it or not, Gerina said. I havent had a bad meal over there. Her chicken parm is pretty money.The murder of five Dallas police officers Thursday night was particularly tough on Gerina. The Pillers live near Dallas, where Martin was born. Gerinas step-father, Alan Stevenson, has been on the police force in Roswell, New Mexico, Gerinas hometown, for two decades.Its heart-wrenching, because police officers are humans, Piller said. Theyre not perfect. There are some who may do something wrong. They have less than seconds to make a decision. Im 100 percent with the police. My father retires this year. Im super excited for him. Hes done everything from working on the streets to doing polygraphs. Right now, he works on the task force. Hes a commander.On the weekend, playing a game, Piller will try to be in command of her skills.I think shes already kind of a star now, Martin said. The only thing thats missing is a victory somewhere. Shes good enough to play with anyone. Its just a matter of walking through the fire and doing it.Anthony Davis Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. JJ Redick Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Jrue-Holiday-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Jahlil Okafor Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Derrick Favors Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Quinndary Weatherspoon knew Mississippi State needed a lift and was glad to provide it. He was also happy when his teammates chipped in.Weatherspoon scored 19 of his career-high 25 points in the first half to lead the Bulldogs to an 80-68 victory over Boise State at the Charleston Classic on Friday night. It was a welcome result after Mississippi State lost to UCF -- it trailed 47-19 in the first half -- on Thursday night in their opening game at TD Arena.I was just looking for openings and finding others out there, Weatherspoon said. I was trying to create for others.The result was a satisfying win for the Bulldogs (2-1), who will face UTEP for fifth place in the eight-team tournament.We did a really good job bouncing back, Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said.Weatherspoon was a main reason why.After Boise State tied the game at 18-all , Weatherspoon scored 11 straight points to help the Bulldogs build a six-point lead, 29-23.In the second half, all the Bulldogs got involved and grew the lead to 19 points on Weatherspoons steal and breakaway dunk.Boise State (1-2) could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.Tyson Carter added 15 points for Mississippi State, who had all five starters go for double figures.Weatherspoon topped his old scoring mark of 24 points set against Vanderbilt last February.Boise State coach Leon Rice said his team struggled with its shooting touch and played a long stretch of the first half without starting forward Nick Duncan, who took an elbow to the head and needed seven stitches to close up a bloody gash.We hung in there, but with Nick going out and the foul trouble, it was difficult, he said.Weatherspoon, a quick, 6-foot-4 sophomore, made nine of 12 shots and added four steals and four rebounds.Chandler Hutchison and Paris Austin had 13 points each to top Boise Sttate.dddddddddddd.BIG PICTUREMississippi State recovered from an awful effort against UCF -- the Bulldogs trailed by 28 points in the first half -- to defeat Boise State. There are still plenty of issues that need attention, however. The Bulldogs settled for way too many outside shots (they were just 2 of 15 from behind the arc the first 20 minutes) and post players Schneider Herard, Aric Holman and E.J. Datcher all struggled with their touch around the basket, combining to go 6 of 15 from the field against the Broncos.Boise State needs to find a second option when prime scorer Hutchison is off target, out of synch or on the bench with foul trouble as he was against Mississippi State. No one rose to the occasion for Boise State.HEY, I KNOW YOUThe Mississippi State-UTEP matchup will reunite good friends and L.A. rivals in Bulldogs coach Ben Howland and Miners coach Tim Floyd -- who battled each other in the West Coast, Howland as UCLAs coach and Floyd as USC leader. Its going to be a tough game, Howland said.INJURY WORRYQuinndary Weatherspoon went to the bench holding his left wrist. But after a quick look and some tape, Weatherspoon returned to the court. Despite the ice pack on his wrist, Weatherspoon said hed be ready to go for Sundays game.ITS NEVER OVERAfter Nick Duncan was stitched up, he returned to the court in a large, maroon bandage that looked like Sylvester Stallones famous head band worn by his Rambo character in First Blood. Yeah, it was kind of stylish, he said of his head band.UP NEXTMississippi State will play UTEP for fifth place at the Charleston Classic on Sunday.Boise State will play Western Michigan -- an all-Broncos matchup -- for seventh place at the Charleston Classic on Sunday. ' ' '