Since THE Central State University (CSU) Lady Marauders last won a
game, it has been more than a month. Saturday, December 5, 2015, was the date of
the Lady Marauders’ last victory. By the Final Score of 75-60, CSU defeated
Paine College. That game took place exactly where my present location happens
to be. Currently, I am sitting inside of CSU’s Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium. Since
12/05/2015, the Lady Marauders have played three games. In all three games, the
team was soundly defeated. Where do the Lady Marauders go from here? That is a
great question. It is one that I do not possess the answer to. If I had the answer
to that question and the answers to all of the Lady Marauders’ problems, I
would share such information with the team itself and its coaching staff. I
would make sure CSU’s Women’s Basketball Program was much better than it is.
Just like last season, the Lady Marauders have been very up-and-down. So far
this season, there have been more downs than ups. However, I truly believe one
thing. The CSU Lady Marauders can be a much better team that would be more
competitive and stable. I know that to be true. I watched the young women
control and win two Preseason Games. In the team’s two Regular Season Home
Victories, I noticed the same attributes. In order to bring out the very best
in each of the team’s players, the coaching staff is responsible for that issue.
The players themselves share some responsibility too.
Today
(Thursday, January 7, 2016) is a brand-new day. In mere minutes, CSU will be
facing the Clark-Atlanta University (CAU) Lady Panthers. Every difficulty,
conflict, and issue which the Lady Marauders are experiencing all cannot be
solved in today’s game. That process will require an adequate amount of time
and attention. However, today’s game can go a long way with assisting that
process. On the tip-off, Central State knocked the ball out of bounds. As a
result, Clark-Atlanta was awarded possession of the ball. The Lady Panthers ended
up missing two shots at the basket. Then, the Lady Marauders’ Mustafa Notter
missed a 2-Point Shot Attempt. Both teams went on to each commit 1-Turnover
apiece. At 8:49, the game’s first points were scored. CAU’s Sydni Davis picked
up 2-Points. Seventeen seconds later (8:32), Notter made a 2-Point Basket.
Notter soon missed an uncontested lay-up. From 7:40 to 6:12, the Lady Panthers
went on a 7-0 Scoring Run. Mykala Jones scored 5-Points. Before a Media Timeout
at 4:18, CSU’s Kourtni Perry went on a 5-2 run. Going into the Timeout, CAU led
CSU 11-9.
The
Lady Panthers’ small players are attacking the basket. Against the bigger
players of Central State, Clark-Atlanta was doing that. At one point, CAU
possessed a 7-Point Lead. However, CSU came back. The game’s pace has become
totally fast. At first, the Lady Panthers was the only fast team. At the 4:09
mark, the Lady Marauders made a 3-Point Basket. With a 3-Point Basket of her
own, Davis countered the Lady Marauders’ conversion. After CSU’s Shannon DeFoe picked
up 2-Points, each team committed 1-Turnover. Then, the Lady Panthers nailed a
3-Point Basket. With 2:01 on the clock, CSU’s Ashley Dennis made a 2-Point
Basket. Before a Timeout (1:38), Davis made a 2-Point Basket. After the
Timeout, CAU’s Defense made a block at the basket. CSU turned the ball over.
The Lady Panthers went on an 8-0 run. Davis and her teammate Gia Banks each
made a 3-Point Basket. With 0.9 Seconds remaining in the 1st
Quarter, the Lady Marauders’ Meshia Smith hit a 3-Point Basket. At the end of
the 1st Quarter, CAU leads CSU 27-19.
In
order to open up a small lead, the Lady Panthers have utilized the 3-Point
Basket. Central State cannot stop them from being successful from 3-Point
Range. After the beginning of the 2nd Quarter, Perry was standing at
the basket. To her dismay, her 2-Point Basket was no good. Clark-Atlanta missed
a 2-Point Basket too. At 9:12, CSU’s Ghameerah McCullers picked up 2-Points.
From 8:51 to 4:45, the Lady Marauders committed 5-Turnovers. The Lady Panthers
turned the ball over once. CAU outscored CSU 9-2. With 4:45 remaining in the 2nd
Quarter, a Media Timeout was called. CAU possessed a 36-23 lead. During the
First Half’s final 3:42, CSU’s Turnover Issues continued to increase. The Lady
Marauders committed 4-Turnovers. The Lady Panthers went on a 10-1 run. At the
end of the First Half, Clark-Atlanta leads Central State 46-24.
Thus
far, this has been a very one-sided game. Clark-Atlanta is in firm control of
this game. The Lady Panthers have the speed advantage, and they are using it
very well. Central State cannot slowdown CAU’s speed. For the purpose of good
shots, the Lady Panthers are using speed to attack the basket. Against the Lady
Marauders’ taller players, CAU’s smaller players are not afraid to attack the
basket. For CAU, the 3-Point Basket has been extremely deadly!!! From 3-Point
Range, the Lady Panthers were an incredible 7 of 9. In order to deal with this
negative issue, CSU’s Defense does not possess the proper solution. The 3-Point
Basket is the #1 Reason for CAU’s 22-Point Lead. Last but certainly not least,
CSU has had a very poor shooting performance. That has not helped matters
whatsoever. As the 3rd Quarter got underway, Central State has
possession of the ball. At 9:50, CSU misses a 2-Point Basket. Four seconds
later (9:46), Clark-Atlanta committed a Traveling Violation (Turnover).
At
the 9:43 mark, Perry made a 2-Point Basket. From 8:55 to 7:25, Central State committed
3-Turnovers. Clark-Atlanta committed 2-Turnovers. Each team scored 2-Points
apiece. Davis went on to score her team’s next 4-Points. Before the Lady
Panthers turned the ball over at 6:17, the Lady Marauders put 3-Points onto the
scoreboard. With 5:52 on the clock, Smith picked up 2-Points. With 2-Foul
Shots, Jones matched Smith’s conversion. After the Lady Panthers committed a
Traveling Violation (Turnover), a Media Timeout was called. CAU leads CSU
54-33. Sandwiched in-between 1-Turnover (by each team), CAU’s Siera Bubb made a
2-Point Basket. The 3rd Quarter’s final 2:50 were littered with
Turnovers. Each team committed 2-Turnovers apiece. CSU outscored CAU 8-3. CSU’s
Bria Spaulding scored 5-Points. At the end of the 3rd Quarter, CSU
trails CAU 59-41.
To
start the 4th Quarter, the Lady Panthers had possession of the ball.
At 9:43, Nekia Sockwell made a 2-Point Basket. DeFoe went on to pick up
2-Points. Eventually, Central State turned the ball over. At the 8:56 mark, a
Timeout was called. After the Timeout, the Lady Marauders continued to regress.
From 8:40 to 6:02, the Lady Marauders committed 3-Turnovers. The Lady Panthers
outscored them 9-1. CAU’s lead grew to 70-44. It was soon CAU’s turn to have a
Major Turnover Problem. From 5:40 to 4:40, the Lady Panthers committed
4-Turnovers. The Lady Marauders went on a 7-0 run. With 4:40 remaining in the
game, a Media Timeout was called. The Lady Panthers lead the Lady Marauders
70-51. After the Timeout, the Lady Panthers’ Turnover Difficulties continued.
From
4:36 to 3:01, Clark-Atlanta committed 2-Turnovers. Central State had 1-Turnover.
CSU outscored CAU 7-2. At the 3:01 mark, a Timeout was called. By 14-Points
(72-58), CSU trailed CAU. After the Timeout, the Lady Marauders went on to turn
the ball over twice. The Lady Panthers had 1-Turnover. With 2:36 remaining in
the game, Sockwell made a 2-Point Basket. For the remainder of the game, CSU
would not score again. CAU ended the game on an 8-0 Scoring Run. By the Final
Score of 80-58, Clark-Atlanta dealt Central State another embarrassing, blowout
loss. In order to turn their season around, I really have no clue (as to what
the Lady Marauders can do). The 2015-2016 Season is just becoming one, big
disgrace. I know that sounds harsh. However, that is the only way to describe
the disarray within Central State University’s Women’s Basketball Program. Although
I do not know how the Lady Marauders can fix their negative issues, I do know
one thing. The entire team (and its coaching staff) all have some soul-searching
to do. Every individual needs to take a long look into the nearest mirror.
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