As the common, longtime phrase goes, “Today is a brand-new day.” As far as THE Central State
University’s (CSU) Women’s Basketball Team goes, that phrase relates to those
young women quite well. In fact, that phrase should be embedded within the
minds of each one of the Lady Marauders. Today (Saturday, December 5, 2015),
the Lady Marauders will be taking the court. The opponent will be fellow
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) member The Paine College
(PC) Lady Lions. In mere minutes, that should be where CSU’s complete focus
lies. I fully understand that. However, I want to take a look back at this past
Thursday night (December 3, 2015). At the end of the night, the CSU Lady
Marauders lost to the Benedict College Lady Tigers 78-60. At Halftime, CSU
trailed by only 4-Points (39-35). The question which I have is simply the
following. How does one go from trailing by 4-Points to losing by 18-Points?
The 18-Point Loss is what truly boggles my mind. Had the Lady Marauders lost by
a closer margin, I would have been able to understand the defeat. Failure to
control what took place in the Second Half is what really sticks to my mind. In
the Second Half of any game, CSU has to do a much better job. As the Lady
Marauders prepare to take the court tonight, I sure hope they realize that
issue is very serious. If they have not adequately dealt with the issue, Paine College
will exit Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium with a victory in tow.
Central
State won the game’s tip-off. After missing 2-Shot Attempts, the Lady Marauders
soon found themselves with the ball again. However, that Offensive Possession
became a Turnover. The ball ended up going out of bounds. At 8:56, Paine
College scored the game’s first points. The Lady Lions’ Tierra Boykin made a
2-Point Basket. For the Lady Marauders, Ghameerah McCullers picked up 2-Points
too (8:27). After PC turned the ball over, CSU had possession again. With 7:49
on the clock, Jordyn Bond nailed a 3-Point Basket. From 7:29 to 6:27, PC committed
2-Turnovers. CSU committed 1-Turnover. After this series of Turnovers
concluded, the Lady Marauders went on a 5-0 Scoring Run. McCullers made a
2-Point Basket. Kourtni Perry scored 3-Points. Each team would go on to obtain
a Steal. Then, the Lady Marauders’ Destinee Russell made a 2-Point Basket. With
4:23 remaining in the 1st Quarter, a Timeout was called. CSU is
leading PC 12-2.
Central
State is completely dominating this game. The Marauders’ Defense has Paine
College locked down. The Lady Lions cannot get anything going. Sixteen seconds
after the Timeout (4:07), PC committed another Turnover. This time, the Lady
Lions were penalized for a Traveling Violation. At 3:44, PC’s Janisha Wilkerson
made a 2-Point Basket. Perry countered with 2-Points of her own. From 3:03 to
2:11, each team committed 2-Turnovers. Before the quarter ended, each team committed
1-Turnover. CSU outscored PC 4-1. With 11.5 Seconds remaining, one of the Lady
Lions’ players was positioned at the basket. As she went up for a Shot Attempt,
the Lady Marauders’ Defense blocked the ball out of the air. At the end of the
1st Quarter, CSU led PC 18-5. The Lady Marauders need to work on
their Turnovers and Fouls. Otherwise, they are doing most things correctly.
At
the 9:48 mark of the 2nd Quarter, CSU turned the ball over. The Lady
Marauders committed a 3-Second Violation. From 9:37 to 9:20, PC went on a 4-0
run. During the run, the Lady Marauders had the ball stolen. CSU had its own
run too. From 9:01 to 8:26, Bond outscored the Lady Lions 5-0. Five seconds
later (8:21), PC turned the ball over. Then, CSU turned the ball over too. Both
teams continued to struggle with Turnovers. From 8:04 to 4:14, PC committed a
whopping 6-Turnovers. CSU had 2-Turnovers. The Lady Marauders outscored the
Lady Lions 31-13. With 4:14 remaining in the 2nd Quarter, a Media
Timeout was called. I have never witnessed so many Traveling Violations like I
am seeing in this game. Both teams are having trouble with this issue.
Near
the 4:00 mark (4:01), CSU’s Brianye Copeland made a 2-Point Basket. PC went on
to outscore CSU 11-7. During that run, the Lady Marauders committed
3-Turnovers. At the end of the First Half, Central State leads Paine 40-24.
Other than Turnovers; Fouls; and Free Throws, I do not see anything else which
the Lady Marauders need to work on. As the 3rd Quarter got underway,
CSU had possession of the ball. However, Perry missed a 2-Point Basket. CSU soon had the ball again. This time,
Shannon DeFoe picked up 2-Points. Although PC went on to commit 1-Turnover, the
Lady Lions’ Ashley Watts outscored CSU 3-0. From 8:07 to 6:03, each team committed
2-Turnovers. CSU went on a 4-0 run. At the 6:02 mark, a Media Timeout was
called. After this Timeout, PC went on a 4-0 run. Then, the Lady Lions turned
the ball over. With 4:57 on the scoreboard, another Media Timeout was called.
CSU was leading PC 46-31.
From
4:48 to 3:23, PC committed 2-Turnovers. CSU had 1-Turnover. Each team scored
2-Points. Then, Janisha Wilkerson outscored CSU 5-1. Before a Timeout at 1:40,
the Lady Lions trimmed the Lady Marauders’ lead to 10-Points (50-40). During
the 3rd Quarter’s last 1:18, the Lady Marauders outscored the Lady
Lions 3-2. At the end of the 3rd Quarter, CSU leads PC 53-42. Paine
College is working its way back into the game. After the 4th Quarter
started, PC had possession of the ball. The Lady Lions went on a 4-0 run.
Although the Lady Marauders’ Turnover Problems continued, CSU outscored PC 5-0.
From 6:58 to 4:37, PC outscored CSU 5-4. For the Lady Lions, Wilkerson scored
4-Points. Perry scored all of the Lady Marauders’ points. With 4:23 remaining
in the game, a Timeout was called.
Ten
seconds after the Timeout (4:13), CSU’s Defense made a Block at the basket.
However, Wilkerson obtained the rebound. Then, she picked up 2-Points. A short
time later (3:48), CSU’s Meshia Smith made a 2-Point Basket. At the 3:13 mark,
Smith nailed a 3-Point Basket. For the remainder of the game, CSU committed
3-Turnovers. PC had 1-Turnover. CSU outscored PC 8-6. Copeland scored 3-Points.
DeFoe hit a 3-Point Basket. At the end of the 4th Quarter, PC was
unable to catch up to CSU. Therefore, the Lady Marauders won the game. The
Final Score was Central State 75 and Paine College 60.
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