Today (Saturday, November 14, 2015) is a very emotional day for me. In
fact, I almost did not want this day to arrive. Since Thursday, February 12,
2015, I have not been inside of Wilberforce University’s (WU) Alumni Multiplex
(AM). My present location is the AM. Back on 02/12/2015, I was present to watch
the WU Bulldogs’ Men’s Basketball Team play a game. Once again, I am here to
watch a basketball game. However, this time, I will be watching the Lady
Bulldogs take the court. I will never forget the night of 02/12/2015. Covering
a Bulldogs’ commanding victory was great to witness. My memories of that night
do not concern the basketball game. Those memories have nothing to do with WU
and/or The AM whatsoever. In the hours and days after 02/12/2015, the occurrences
(which took place) will forever be in my mind; body; and soul. At this very
moment, those occurrences truly have me emotional. With discussing this issue,
I do not feel comfortable at all. I just feel that my readers deserve to know
my current “Emotional Capacity and
Mindset.” Upon leaving The AM on 02/12/2015, I would go on to have
telephone conversations with a young woman who is very close to me and my
heart. Three days later (Sunday, February 15, 2015), my connection to her would
forever come to an abrupt end. On that very day, a woman who I one day had
hoped to marry was found deceased (in her apartment). At the time, we were not
a romantic couple. Eventually, I had hoped to change that aspect. Now, I will
never receive the opportunity to do so. To the fullest extent possible, that
fact brings great pain to my heart.
Now
that I have allowed my readers into my personal life, I must get back to the
reason why I am sitting in the AM. In just mere minutes, the WU Lady
Bulldogs will take the court against the Lady Blue Knights of Urbana University
(UU). To this very day, I have yet to see the Lady Bulldogs play. As far as the
Lady Blue Knights go, that is a much different story. Last month, I saw UU play
a Preseason Game at Central State University (CSU). The Lady Blue Knights have
speed, and they can shoot. In order to gain firm control of the game, I fully
expect them to use speed to their advantage. As a direct result, the Lady Blue
Knights will put themselves into good positions for good shooting
opportunities. Remember this fact. UU is a good 3-Point Shooting Team. The
3-Point Basket almost enabled UU to defeat CSU. If the WU Lady Bulldogs allow
UU to convert multiple 3-Point Baskets with great success, then WU will have a
major problem on its hands. Wilberforce won the game’s tip-off. However, the
Lady Bulldogs were unable to put points onto the scoreboard. At 9:47, WU turned
the ball over.
Urbana
capitalized off of WU’s mistake. At 9:38, the Lady Blue Knights’ Kennedy Boggs
made a 2-Point Basket. Soon thereafter, the Lady Bulldogs’ Da’Sha’Nay Corley picked
up 2-Points for her team (9:23). From 9:08 to 8:42 gameplay was sloppy. WU committed
2-Turnovers and UU committed 1-Turnover. With 8:04 on the clock, points were
scored again. UU’s Danie Shafer nailed a 3-Point Basket. Not even one minute
later (7:17), WU turns the ball over again. However, one of the Lady Blue
Knights’ players knocked the ball out of bounds. The Lady Bulldogs maintained
possession. At the 6:34 mark, the Lady Bulldogs’ Jasmine Johnson slid in-between
UU’s Defense. She got to the basket and scored 2-Points. WU followed that up
with a blocked shot (6:09). Then, each team turned the ball over once. Before a
Timeout (5:47), Johnson hit a 3-Point Basket. WU led UU 7-5.
With
5:02 remaining in the 1st Quarter, UU’s Jazmyn Haley made a great
Defensive Rebound. She was positioned at the basket. With three of
Wilberforce’s players surrounding her, she managed to obtain the ball’s
possession. The Lady Blue Knights were unable to place points onto the
scoreboard. Of course, that did not matter. WU soon turned the ball over. At
4:16, the Lady Blue Knights’ Megan Beachy was fouled. Her 2-Foul Shots tied the
game 7-7. At the 3:47 mark, Beachy was at it again. She nailed a 3-Point
Basket. Twenty-seven seconds later (3:20), UU’s Tori Purk successfully
converted 1-Foul Shot Attempt. Exactly at the 3:00 mark, Corley made a 2-Point
Basket. From 2:05 to 1:44, UU went on a 5-0 Scoring Run. Beachy hit a 3-Point
Basket. After WU turned the ball over, Shafer picked up 2-Points.
Shortly
after a Timeout, Corley made a 2-Point Basket (1:24). Before the end of the 1st
Quarter, the Lady Blue Knights committed 2-Turnovers. With 3.7 Seconds
remaining in the 1st Quarter, the Lady Bulldogs’ Domanique Brown
made a 2-Point Basket. At the end of the 1st Quarter, UU led WU
16-13. Four seconds into the 2nd Quarter (9:56), UU turned the ball
over. Then, WU went on to turn over the ball (9:48). From 8:38 to 8:10, the
Lady Blue Knights outscored the Lady Bulldogs 4-0. At 7:31, the Lady Bulldogs
ended the run. WU nailed a 3-Point Basket. After UU turns the ball over, a
Timeout was called (6:41). By the score of 20-16, UU still led WU. Coming out
of the Timeout, the Lady Blue Knights went on to light up the scoreboard. From
6:23 to 4:09, UU went on a 14-6 run. During the run, UU’s Jennifer Alflen hit
three 3-Point Baskets. Beachy made one 3-Point Basket. Shafer made a 2-Point
Basket. With 4:04 remaining in the First Half, a Timeout was called. Urbana led
Wilberforce 34-22.
For
the remainder of the First Half, WU committed 3-Turnovers. UU had 1-Turnover. The
Lady Blue Knights outscored the Lady Bulldogs 9-8. At the end of the First
Half, Urbana led Wilberforce 43-30. For both teams, the First Half was very
sloppy. A lot of mistakes were made. Those mistakes led to turnovers and
points. Urbana recovered. The Lady Blue Knights got themselves together.
Eventually, their speed; improved ball-handling; and excellent footwork took
over the game. What truly impressed me (about UU) is simply the following. The
Lady Blue Knights have excellent foot working ability. As a result, the young
women put themselves into great positions for shots; passes; and rebounds. UU’s
footwork is what mainly has allowed the team to remain in front of WU. The “3-POINT
SHOT” (by UU) is deeply hurting WU.
After
the Halftime Break, Wilberforce started with possession of the ball. The Lady
Bulldogs were unable to score. At 9:43, Purk made 1-Foul Shot. From 8:50 to 7:56,
UU outscored WU 6-2. Beachy scored 4-Points. With 7:31 on the clock, a
Technical Foul was levied against Urbana. For WU, Johnson attempted both Foul
Shots. To her dismay, she missed both Free Throw Attempts. After this situation
had passed, WU went on to turn the ball over twice. UU turned the ball over
once. The Lady Blue Knights outscored the Lady Bulldogs 8-7. With 4:53 remaining
in the 3rd Quarter, a Timeout was called. UU led WU 58-39. After the
Timeout, Shafer nailed a 3-Point Basket. Then, Johnson hit a 3-Point Basket.
From
3:52 to 1.4 Seconds, WU committed 3-Turnovers. UU committed 2-Turnovers. The
Lady Blue Knights outscored the Lady Bulldogs 6-4. At the end of the 3rd
Quarter, UU leads WU 67-46. Urbana has taken firm control of the game.
Offensively and Defensively, UU has significantly turned up its intensity and
pressure. The Lady Blue Knights’ use of the 3-Point Basket is putting
WU away. Eleven seconds into the 4th Quarter (9:49), Haley made
2-Foul Shots. Then, WU goes on a 6-0 run. At 8:05, a Timeout was called. At
7:45, UU’s Kennedy Boggs made a 2-Point Basket. With a 4-0 run, WU countered
Boggs’ conversion. From 6:45 to 3:19, the Lady Blue Knights outscored the Lady
Bulldogs 11-6. During the final 3:05, WU outscored UU 9-6. However, it was not
enough. By the Final Score of 88-71, Urbana defeated Wilberforce. This game was
won in the 3rd Quarter. After UU turned up its intensity and
pressure, it was clear the Lady Blue Knights were not going to lose.
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