Lady Marauders Lose A Nightmare

            At this current moment in time, THE Central State University (CSU) Lady Marauders’ 2015-2016 Season Record sits at 3-4. Although that record could be better, it is a vast improvement over last season (2014-2015). Plain and simple, this season, the Lady Marauders are a much better team. To be completely honest, I am surprised. Last season, the Lady Marauders were an up-and-down team. If you do not know what that means, please allow me to explain. At various times, CSU would lose to teams which it should have defeated. On other occasions, CSU would go out and be able to compete with such strong teams as Cedarville University (CU). In 2014-2015, the Lady Yellow Jackets and the Lady Marauders played one another in three games. Two of the three games were very close. One of the games was an “Overtime Thriller.” The other was a 7-Point Playoff Game (Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament). Although CSU lost all three games, it proved one point. The Lady Marauders have the ability to compete with one of the best teams in the entire country. On a consistent basis, CSU has to always play in that manner. Nothing less should ever be acceptable.

            Make no mistakes about it. This season, the CSU Lady Marauders can get up-and-down the basketball court. The team can run; has power; and possesses speed. Last season, CSU did not always possess that combination (on a consistent basis). That issue must change. What will today’s (Monday, December 7, 2015) game be like? If the Claflin University (CU) Lady Panthers have their way, the CSU Lady Marauders will have a very bad day. Central State won the game’s tip-off. At 9:41, Claflin committed a Defensive Foul. Five seconds later (9:36), CSU’s Kourtni Perry picked up 2-Points. After CU committed an Offensive Foul, Perry picked up another 2-Points. At the 8:22 mark, the Lady Marauders’ Offense turned the ball over. Then, the Lady Panthers outscored the Lady Marauders 7-4. CSU turned the ball over twice. CU committed 1-Turnover.

            With 5:07 on the clock, CSU’s Shannon DeFoe made a 2-Point Basket. During the play, she was fouled. After DeFoe successfully made the Foul Shot, the Marauders took an 11-7 lead. CU followed that up with a 2-Point Basket. From 4:29 to 3:24, CSU committed 2-Turnovers. CU had 1-Turnover. With 3:24 remaining in the 1^st Quarter, a Media Timeout was called. CSU led CU 11-9. For Shot Attempts, CSU is having success going to the basket. While at the basket, the Lady Marauders’ best bet is to put the ball into Perry’s hands. When she is at the basket, she cannot be stopped. The Lady Marauders have attacked the basket well. Claflin has been successful shooting away from the basket. The Lady Panthers have not displayed much of an inside presence. Twenty seconds after the Timeout (3:04), the Lady Panthers’ Briana Chisolm made a 2-Point Basket.

            Sandwiched in-between a Turnover by each team, CU committed a Defensive Foul. CSU turned the ball over again. The Lady Panthers outscored the Lady Marauders 8-2. Chisolm and teammate Shaniece Brown each nailed a 3-Point Basket. With no time remaining on the clock, Brown made her 3-Point Basket. At the end of the 1^st Quarter, CU leads CSU 19-13. The story of the 1^st Quarter is simply this. Central State has ruled going to the basket. Claflin has ruled the shooting away from the basket aspect. At 9:49 of the 2^nd Quarter, the Marauders missed a Deep Shot. The Lady Panthers obtained the Defensive Rebound. CSU soon stole the ball from them. Then, CU ended up intercepting a pass. CSU committed a Defensive Foul. At 8:42, Chisolm found herself at the Free Throw Line. Unfortunately, she was unable to make a Foul Shot.

            At the 8:23 mark, CSU’s Bria Spaulding went up for a Shot Attempt. However, her attempt was blocked. From 8:17 to 7:36, the Lady Marauders committed 2-Turnovers. The Lady Panthers had 1-Turnover. After each team made 1-Foul Shot, CSU’s Brianye Copeland obtained a Steal. She ended up making a 2-Point Basket. With 4:45 remaining in the 2^nd Quarter, the Lady Marauders’ Meshia Smith stole the ball too. With an assist from Smith, Destinee Russell picked up 2-Points. At 4:15, a Timeout was called. Claflin leads Central State 20-18. Central State has to play better Perimeter Defense. Claflin is shooting well from the perimeter. On too many occasions, the Lady Panthers are being left open for deep shots. Other than Perry, the Lady Marauders need to rebound better. After the Timeout, CU committed 2-Turnovers. CSU committed 1-Turnover.

            With 2:41 remaining in the 2^nd Quarter, the Lady Panthers made a 2-Point Basket. After a Timeout (2:07), the Lady Marauders’ LaKayra Carlisle picked up 2-Points. During the process, she was fouled. Carlisle successfully made her Foul Shot. During the final 1:07, each team scored 3-Points. At the end of the First Half, Claflin possessed a 1-Point Lead (25-24).  During the last 4:15 of the half, Central State turned up its intensity. On both sides of the ball, that was the case. The Lady Marauders’ Meshia Smith has become a strong force. By obtaining rebounds; steals; and performing assists, she has done such. The Lady Marauders have to work on Turnovers and Missed Foul Shots. As the 3^rd Quarter got underway, Central State had possession of the ball. At 9:46, Ghameerah McCullers went to the basket. As she went up, she made a Shot Attempt. The shot missed the basket.

            From 8:43 to 6:04, the game became a “Major Turnover Party.” CSU committed 2-Turnovers. CU committed a whopping 4-Turnovers. The Lady Panthers went on a 4-0 Scoring Run. With 4:48 remaining in the 3^rd Quarter, a Media Timeout was called. Thus far in the 3^rd Quarter, the Lady Marauders have not scored. They get good looks at the basket. However, the ball is not going through the hoop. Four seconds after the Timeout (4:44), the Lady Marauders finally scored. Jordyn Bond made 2-Foul Shots. CSU trailed CU by 6-Points (32-26). From 4:20 to 2:56, each team scored 5-Points. After that period, each team went on to turn the ball over once. During the final 1:01, CU went on a 6-0 Scoring Run. At the end of the 3^rd Quarter, CU leads CSU 43-31.

            After a slow start, Central State managed to get back into the game. However, Claflin has been pulling away because of CSU’s turnovers. At 9:22 of the 4^th Quarter, Bond made a 2-Point Basket. That conversion must have angered CU. From 9:08 to 8:36, the Lady Panthers went on a 9-0 Scoring Run. At 8:36, a Timeout was called. The Lady Marauders have completely fallen apart. This game is OVER! From 8:18 to 5:21, the Lady Marauders outscored the Lady Panthers 8-7. At the 5:12 mark, a Media Timeout was called. At a rapid pace, CSU is turning the ball over. For the Lady Marauders, the game has gotten EMBARRASSINGLY BAD! The game continued to go further downhill. During the final 4:25, CU outscored CSU 12-3. At the end of an embarrassing game, Central State went down in defeat. The Final Score was Claflin 73 and Central State 44.