Tonight (Thursday, December 19, 2019) is
going to be a very good night. Let me explain. The Cedarville University (CU)
Lady Yellow Jackets’ Basketball Team recently had an 8-Game Winning Streak
ended (a 74-51 Loss to Kentucky Wesleyan College on 12/14/2019). However,
Cedarville quickly rebounded with a victory (64-43 over Trevecca Nazarene
University on 12/16/2019). With those games now out of the way, a unique
challenge is about to commence. After two Road Games, the Lady Yellow Jackets
has now returned HOME (Callan Athletic Center). The ensuing game is not just
your normal college basketball game. It means much more than that. Tonight’s
game is what I affectionately like to call: “THE BATTLE FOR GREENE
COUNTY.” Only 6-Minutes (by vehicle) and 5-Miles separate
Cedarville University and Wilberforce University (WU) from each other. Although
I would not classify the rivalry as being one of a heated nature, it is still a
rivalry. It is just a “Friendly Rivalry.” Regardless of how people feel about
athletic contests between CU and WU, everyone should agree on one thing. Both
CU and WU each want the bragging rights. Each team wants to be known as the
better Greene County, Ohio team. Wilberforce comes into tonight’s game with an
Overall Season Record of 7-4. Currently, the team is on a 5-Game Winning
Streak. With both teams having played in a positive way (up until this moment
in time), tonight’s game will be interesting. Which team will be able to gain
control and arise victorious? While I cannot answer that question at this very
moment, I do know one thing. For the entirety of this game, that question will
never leave my mindset.
As
the Official Tip-Off was getting underway, Wilberforce’s Lady Bulldogs committed
a foul. Cedarville was given the ball’s possession. At 9:48, the Lady Yellow
Jackets’ Abby Wolford missed a 2-Point Basket. Wilberforce went on to miss a
2-Point Basket too. Cedarville ended up with the ball again. Unfortunately, the
team turned the ball over. With 9:01 on the clock, Cedarville’s Defense picked
up a steal. The steal did not turn into points. At 7:57, Wilberforce’s Malika
Wildon nailed a 3-Point Basket. The Lady Bulldogs would soon have the ball
again. Due to an Offensive Foul, the ball would be turned over. With 7:04 on
the scoreboard, the Lady Yellow Jackets finally scored some points. Alli Roh
made a 2-Point Basket. A short time later, Cedarville picked up another steal.
Once again, the team was unable to convert the steal into points. From 5:29 to
4:58, Wilberforce outscored Cedarville 5-0. Sydney Moore scored 3-Points.
At
the 4:58 mark, a Timeout was called. Wilberforce leads Cedarville 8-2. Thus
far, this has been a very defensive game. However, Wilberforce is taking
control. Cedarville is having trouble with Wilberforce’s size. Cedarville is
going to have to find a way to properly deal with that obstacle. At 4:29,
Wilberforce’s Latyrah Beasley made a 2-Point Basket. Twenty-nine seconds later
(4:00), Cedarville’s Allison Mader made a 2-Point Basket too. From 3:21 to
2:48, Cedarville committed 2-Turnovers. Wilberforce had 1-Offensive Foul
(Turnover). Before the Lady Yellow Jackets turned the ball over again (1:27),
Roh went on a 4-0 Scoring Run. During the final 1:02 of the 1st
Quarter, the Lady Bulldogs’ Nia McCormick made a 2-Point Basket. Wildon hit a
3-Point Basket. For the Lady Yellow Jackets, Wolford and teammate Ashlyn
Huffman each obtained 2-Points. At the end of the 1st Quarter,
Wilberforce leads Cedarville 15-12. After the game started, it was very
defensive. Both teams had trouble scoring. Then, Wilberforce started taking
over. Cedarville has fought its way back into the game.
When
the 2nd Quarter started, Wilberforce had the ball. Immediately, Lea
Coulter proceeded to go on a 4-0 Scoring Run. At 8:37, Cedarville’s Isabelle
Bolender ended the run. Bolender made a 2-Point Basket. From 8:19 to 7:16,
Wilberforce outscored Cedarville 6-0. During the run, Wildon hit a 3-Point
Basket. During the time frame, Cedarville had one positive play. Bolender made
a hard block which ended up out-of-bounds. At the 6:57 mark, a Media Timeout
was called. Wilberforce leads Cedarville 25-14. Wilberforce is really taking it
to Cedarville. In terms of speed, Cedarville has found a team that is just like
itself. Just like Cedarville, Wilberforce is a fast team. However, Wilberforce
is the faster team. In order to remain in front of Cedarville, Wilberforce is
using a combination of size and speed.
Coming
out of the Media Timeout, Cedarville’s Lexi Moore made a 2-Point Basket. For
Wilberforce, Coulter responded with a 3-Point Basket. After turning the ball
over, Cedarville had the ball again. Once again, Moore put 2-Points onto the
scoreboard (4:45). Over one minute later (3:41), Wilberforce’s Alexandra
Shealey picked up 2-Points. From 3:18 to 25.4-Seconds, each team had issues
with turning the ball over. Cedarville committed 4-Turnovers. Wilberforce committed
3-Turnovers. Cedarville outscored Wilberforce 8-2. Wolford and Bolender each
scored 3-Points. Beasley scored Wilberforce’s 2-Points. During the 2nd
Quarter’s last 20.8-Seconds, Bolender (Cedarville) and Wildon (Wilberforce)
each scored 2-Points for their respective team. At the end of the 2nd
Quarter, Wilberforce leads Cedarville 34-28. Cedarville has cut Wilberforce’s
lead down to single-digits. The Lady Yellow Jackets has gotten closer to the
Lady Bulldogs. However, the Lady Yellow Jackets has not gotten over the hump
yet.
Allow
me to begin with the obvious. Wilberforce has the overall size advantage.
Wilberforce has four players who are each at least 6-2 or taller. As a result,
playing at the basket has been a positive aspect for Wilberforce. On both the
Offensive and Defensive ends, Wilberforce is controlling the basket area.
Although Cedarville has had limited success near the basket area, that limited
success has not come easy. I must be completely honest. Since I last saw a team
control Cedarville like this in the Callan Athletic Center, it has been a long
time. Wilberforce is in control of this game. However, Cedarville has reduced
Wilberforce’s Double-Digit Lead down to single-digits. Jack is going nowhere.
As the 2nd Quarter came to a close, it is quite obvious that
Cedarville is very close to placing momentum on its side. Wilberforce cannot
completely separate itself from Cedarville. In the Second Half, failure to do
that could become a huge problem. After Halftime, Wilberforce started with the
ball. The team did not fail to disappoint. At 9:33, McCormick made a 2-Point
Basket.
Fifteen
seconds later (9:18), Wolford responded with 2-Points. From 9:06 to 8:14,
Wilberforce committed 2-Turnovers. Cedarville outscored Wilberforce 4-0. At 7:53,
Beasley got Wilberforce back onto the scoreboard. She made a 2-Point Basket. Cedarville
proceeded to respond with a 4-0 Scoring Run. At 6:49, Bolender’s 2-Point Basket
briefly tied the game 38-38. With 6:30 on the clock, Wilberforce’s Wildon
nailed a 3-Point Basket. Before each team went on to commit a turnover, each
team scored 2-Points. Then, a Battle of 3-Point Baskets took place. Huffman
(Cedarville) and McCormick (Wilberforce) each hit a 3-Point Basket. Before a
Media Timeout at 2:56, each team obtained a steal. Each team scored 2-Points. Wilberforce
leads Cedarville 48-45. After the Halftime Break, both teams have come out
strong. Points are being scored at a rapid pace. Not too many shot attempts are
being missed.
Coming
out of the Media Timeout, the action ended up at the basket. Cedarville’s
Defense made a block and a steal. With the aid of a Wilberforce Turnover,
Cedarville went on an 8-0 Scoring Run. During the process, Wolford scored
5-Points (including a 3-Point Basket). Emily Chapman nailed a 3-Point Basket.
The Lady Yellow Jackets both tied the game (48-48) and gained the lead (50-48).
At the 1:15 mark, a Media Timeout was called. Cedarville leads Wilberforce
53-48. Finally, Cedarville has its first lead of the game. The team is gaining
control of this game. After the latest Media Timeout, Cedarville went on to
score 4-Points. The Lady Bulldogs’ Daija Stafford scored 5-Points. At the end
of the 3rd Quarter, Cedarville leads Wilberforce 57-53. Coming out
of Halftime, Cedarville is like a brand-new team. For the Lady Yellow Jackets,
the Lady Bulldogs’ size and speed are no longer much of a problem. Cedarville
is now utilizing its smaller size and speed to overpower Wilberforce.
The
4th Quarter started with each team turning the ball over. Then,
Cedarville went on a dominating 12-0 Scoring Run. Wolford scored 4-Points.
Huffman scored 6-Points. Abby Freeman and Lexi Moore each scored 1-Point.
Wilberforce had 2-Turnovers. At the 5:00 mark, a Media Timeout was called. Thus
far in the 4th Quarter, Wilberforce has not scored! In all facets,
Cedarville’s Defense has completely clamped down on Wilberforce’s Offense.
Cedarville has completely taken over any area near the basket. Before another
Timeout (3:46), Cedarville’s Allison Mader made a 2-Point Basket (4:05). With 3:29
on the clock, Wilberforce scored its first points of the 4th
Quarter. Beasley made a 2-Point Basket. From 3:09 to 1:25, Wilberforce committed
4-Turnovers. Cedarville outscored Wilberforce 5-0. With 56.5-Seconds remaining
in the game, Wilberforce scored its final points. Christiana Robertson made a
2-Point Basket. Once another Wilberforce Turnover went down, Cedarville’s Paige
Garr scored the game’s final points. She successfully made 2-Foul Shots. By the
Final Score of 78-57, Cedarville University completed a great come back.
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