After more than a month, I finally find myself back where I belong.
Currently, I am sitting inside of Central State University’s (CSU) Beacom-Lewis
Gymnasium (BLG). Today (Saturday, November 28, 2015), the CSU Lady Marauders’
Basketball Team will play host to “The Rock” of Slippery Rock University (SRU).
This is CSU’s First Home Game of The 2015-2016 Season. Coming into the ensuing
game, the Lady Marauders’ Overall Season Record sits at 1-3. Seven days ago
(Saturday, November 21, 2015), CSU played in a hard-fought, Double Overtime
game against Lindsey Wilson College (LWC). By only 4-Points (96-92), the Lady
Marauders lost the game. Therefore, I must wonder about something. What is the
current mindset of the young women? Dealing with such a devastating loss can
take its toll on the mind, body, and soul. That is one of the reasons, as to
why I am so interested in today’s contest. Will the CSU Lady Marauders allow
their latest defeat to linger into today’s game? If so, they will have a
difficult time dealing with Slippery Rock. While I do not know the team’s
current mental & physical condition, I do know the following. All of the
Lady Marauders’ games have been on the ROAD. Now, CSU has returned HOME!
Just
because the team has returned to campus, I am not saying VICTORY is guaranteed!
Home Court Advantage has its good points and its bad points. Without talking to
any player on CSU’s Women’s Basketball Team, I am very confident with believing
one aspect. In front of their Home Fans, the Lady Marauders will not want to
exit BLG with a loss in tow. The team is tired of losing. Today, the young
women will leave everything on the court. Will the entire situation work out
for the CSU Lady Marauders, or will effects from the team’s Double Overtime
Loss find a place in today’s game? In a couple of hours, that question is about
to be answered. Central State won the game’s tip-off. From 9:50 to 9:01, the
game consisted of turnovers-only. CSU committed 3-Turnovers. Slippery Rock committed
2-Turnovers. Finally, at 8:48, the game’s first points were scored. The Rock’s
Megan Hardiman made a 2-Point Basket. After the Lady Marauders’ Jordyn Bond
made a nice block, Hardiman scored again. This time, she nailed a 3-Point
Basket (8:22). Soon thereafter (7:43), CSU’s Brianye Copeland picked up
2-Points. Sandwiched in-between 2-Turnovers (one by each team), Bond made
1-Foul Shot.
At
the 6:27 mark, the Lady Marauders’ Kayla Horn made 1-Foul Shot. From 6:17 to
5:03, SRU outscored CSU 6-3. The Lady Rock’s Audrey Stapleton nailed two
3-Point Baskets. With 4:28 remaining in the 1st Quarter, a Media
Timeout was called. Thus far, this has been a “Very Defensive Game.” CSU is
missing Foul Shots. Also, the Lady Marauders are leaving SRU’s players open for
easy 3-Point Baskets. Twenty-six seconds after the Timeout (4:02), Bond makes a
2-Point Basket. Then, SRU’s Erica Aiello makes a 2-Point Basket too. During the
process, Aiello was fouled. She stepped to the Free Throw Line, and she
successfully converted her 1-Foul Shot. From 3:30 to 1:54, SRU committed
2-Turnovers. CSU committed 1-Turnover. Turnovers did not hinder Slippery Rock’s
momentum. The team went on an 11-3 Scoring Run. Going into a Timeout, Slippery
Rock led Central State 25-12.
During
the final 1:41, SRU outscored CSU 7-3. At the end of the 1st
Quarter, Slippery Rock led Central State 32-15. As the 2nd Quarter
got underway, Bond found herself at the Free Throw Line. To her dismay, she was
unable to make a Foul Shot. At 9:08, the Lady Marauders’ Kourtni Perry picked
up 2-Points. Then, Perry blocked a shot (in the paint). Before a Timeout at
8:08, Copeland was unable to make a Foul Shot. At the 7:46 mark, Perry was near
the basket. She made a block, and she stole the ball. Unfortunately, she
accidentally stepped out of bounds. As a direct result, CSU turned the ball
over. Soon, the game turned messy again. SRU turned the ball over twice. Then,
Perry obtained a Defensive Rebound. With 6:07 on the clock, the Lady Marauders
turned the ball over. From 5:41 to 5:05, CSU’s Ashley Dennis outscored SRU 5-0.
With
4:29 remaining before the Halftime Break, Slippery Rock turned the ball over. However,
the team was in the midst of outscoring Central State 5-3. Aiello made 3-Foul
Shots. Perry scored all three of CSU’s points. During the final 2:59 (of the 2nd
Quarter), SRU committed 3-Turnovers. CSU turned the ball over once. The Lady
Marauders’ lone turnover did not hurt them. On the other hand, Slippery Rock’s
turnovers significantly had a negative impact on the team. The Lady Marauders
exploded for an 11-2 Scoring Run. At the end of the First Half, SRU leads CSU
39-36. Now, there is some confusion with the game’s actual score. While Central
State’s Sports Information Director has CSU leading the game 37-36, I have
Slippery Rock leading CSU 39-36. While my scorekeeping is accurate, I am not in
charge of the Official Record Books. Therefore, I will abide by exactly what
was told to me. Central State is winning the game 37-36.
At
9:38 of the 3rd Quarter, Slippery Rock’s Ciara Patterson nailed a
3-Point Basket. Central State’s Copeland ends up making 1-Foul Shot. Before the
first minute was up (9:01), SRU turned the ball over. From 8:53 to 5:15, CSU
was “Red-Hot!” The Lady Marauders went on an absolute tear. They outscored
Slippery Rock 14-3. During the run, CSU’s LaKayra Carlisle hit two 3-Point
Baskets. At the 5:11 mark, a Timeout was called. Carlisle is on FIRE!!! She is
in a zone. SRU cannot stop her! Before a Media Timeout was called (4:05), SRU’s
Lexi Carpenter outscored CSU 4-2. Slippery Rock is still hanging in there. The
team is not allowing Central State to run away with the game. By the score of
54-46, CSU was still leading SRU.
Twenty
seconds after the Media Time ended (3:45), Slippery Rock was penalized for a
Traveling Violation. With 3:30 remaining in the 3rd Quarter, Central
State’s Ashley Dennis hit a 3-Point Basket. Before another Timeout was called
(1:45), SRU committed 2-Turnovers. A Jump Ball ended up being called. The Rock
maintained the ball’s possession. Aiello went on to nail a 3-Point Basket. For
the remainder of the 3rd Quarter, CSU outscored SRU 6-4. At the end
of the 3rd Quarter, Slippery Rock trailed Central State by 10-Points
(63-53). For the first 1:46 (of the 4th
Quarter), scoring was even (4-4). Then, the Lady Marauders turned the ball
over. They had a Block (in the paint) too. From 7:38 to 3:56, CSU committed
2-Turnovers. SRU went on an Offensive Tear! They severely shrunk CSU’s lead.
Slippery Rock went on a 9-2 run. Carpenter and teammate Audrey Stapleton each
scored 4-points apiece. Central State’s lead was now down to 3-Points (69-55).
Before
a Timeout at 49.6 Seconds, Central State countered Slippery Rock’s run with a
10-6 run. The Lady Marauders’ lead was back to 7-Points (79-72). During the
run, Perry scored 6-Points. During the
remainder of the game, scoring was just about even. CSU outscored SRU 10-9.
Bond scored 4-Points. The Lady Marauders’ Shannon DeFoe scored 3-Points.
Carpenter scored 5-Points. With 38.5 Seconds remaining in the game, Carpenter
nailed a 3-Point Basket. During the play, she was fouled. After making 1-Foul
Shot, Carpenter had just completed a 4-Point Play. At the 23.6 Seconds mark, SRU’s Ciara
Patterson attempted a 3-Point Basket. The Shot Attempt was unsuccessful.
However, she was fouled. Patterson went to the Free Throw Line. She only made
2-Foul Shots. At the end of an extremely hard-fought contest, Central State
University arose victoriously. The Final Score was 89-81.
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