Triumphant redemption: Lady Jackets defend home court against Thomas More

By Lauren Vargas

The Cedarville women’s basketball team played hard the evening of Feb. 27th, head to head against the Thomas More Saints. The game seemed to mirror the turbulence of the rain outside, as both sides vied for a chance at a basket. The Jackets, ever determined to “dominate in the name of Jesus,”  fought tooth and nail for the victory and came out on top with a score of 81-63.

The pace seemed slow at first. Dictating the offensive side of the ball proved a little challenging, especially for the Jackets during the early moments of the game. But as the home team, they felt determined to make their mark and redeem their previous loss against the Saints. 

They struggled to get into a groove early, but only temporarily. The Jackets began to pick up momentum in the second quarter and sank multiple baskets, gaining a lead on the Saints. The unity of the team led to more three point opportunities, rebound rates, and turnover shifts in the Jackets’ favor. They scored 32 points off turnovers thanks to the Saints’ mistakes. 

Although attaining victory was not as easy, the ferocious vigor the Jackets brought to the court paid off. Coach Addie Miller was pleased with the energy, unity and fluidity her team showed.

“I thought they played hard the entire 40 minutes, both offensively and defensively,” Miller said. “I feel like it was encompassingly one of the best games we had offensively, but that was because it started from our defense.”

The Jackets raked up 15 steals and 17 boards on the offensive side of the glass, this aggression then translating to their offense.

Top scorer of 20, Chloe Downing, brought an especially aggressive strategy to the table, hitting four of six three-pointers attempted. Her shooting combined with the team’s adaptability landed them the win.

The Lady Jackets see this game as a learning experience on the path toward the Great Midwest Athletic Tournament (G-MAC). Coach Miller commented on the few things the team will continue to tweak before they showcase their skills in early March. 

“We fouled too much and had too many turnovers at the beginning, but we overcame that,” Miller said. 

Miller knows the team’s foul trouble has caused high point differentials in past games. 

“We foul more than 160 more times than anybody else in our league, which is almost unbelievable to say out loud,” Miller said. “We did a better job in the second half, we only put them at the free throw line seven times, and that’s why the disparity went where it did. It’s something we have to continue to get better at. We want to play aggressive but we have to play smart and aggressive at the same time.”

The women have a few more games to implement this intelligent aggression, as they have clinched a playoff birth and will finish off the regular season on March 1 at Ohio Dominican. 

Lauren Vargas is a freshman biology student with a minor in Spanish, and a sports writer for Cedars. She’s an avid weightlifter and loves watching movies in her free time.

Photo by Preston Cavin