Yellow Jackets undergo defeat against Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers

By Lauren Vargas

Following their last meeting with the formidable Panthers, the Women’s basketball team was revving and aiming for another win against their previously beaten opponent. The Jackets seemed ready to rock the court, and the game was underway. Unfortunately for the Jackets, it did not end in their favor, losing to Kentucky Wesleyan 83-64. 

The coaching staff is taking a long look in the mirror as they assess what led to the definitive loss.

“I think mainly as a coaching staff, we’re going to take it upon ourselves,” head coach Addy Miller said. “We have to do better as a staff preparing them.” 

The Panthers took the opening shot to start the first, spurring the Jackets to turn up the heat early in the competition. In the rush of play, a foul was called on Cedarville’s Brianna Zajicek, resulting in two successful free throws for the Panthers. It was not the greatest start for the Jackets, but they weren’t about to give up so easily. 

In retaliation, the team launched multiple shots, from layups to deep threes. However, in each defensive set for the Jackets, they allowed a Kentucky Wesleyan player to slip through the cracks and score a basket, quickly turning the tables in favor of the Panthers. 

The Jackets continued to lag for the remainder of the game. Their pace and the Panthers’ coordinated offense kept the home team on their toes, pushing the Jackets to the brink.

In the blink of an eye, the clock hit the end of the second quarter. With half the game over, both teams talked it over at halftime and started the third quarter revitalized with a new determination.

The teams raced to outdo one another at the hoop, but Cedarville could not match Kentucky Wesleyan from three-point land. The Jackets shot a mere 12% to the Panthers’ 57%. The Jackets also struggled to get rebounds, often giving their opponent a fresh shot clock. 

Down 11, the Jackets had one last chance to turn the game around. Leading scorer KaCee Kyle hoisted up some final shots before the end of the fourth, but to no avail. The final buzzer sounded, and the Jackets walked away with a loss.

The team, struggling to remain consistent so far this season, is in need of a change. 

Frustrated with the results, Miller remarked on some strategy changes for the team moving forward. 

“We as a coaching staff have to be consistent and that in turn allows for the team to be consistent. I feel like right now, we are a little inconsistent on both sides, which allows for inconsistency in the game, and that’s what we’re seeing right now,” Miller said. 

In lieu of the upcoming game, Thursday, January 23, Yellow Jacket fans wait in anticipation to see what changes the team must make to have a chance at victory against Ohio Dominican. 

Lauren Vargas is a freshman biology student with a minor in Spanish, and a sport writer for Cedars. She loves learning new skills to continually sharpen her mind. She also likes to go adventuring, exercise and movie-watch, especially with her close friends.

Photo by Ian Chan