Lady Jackets win big in home opener 

By Zeke Dubiel

Coming off a loss against Central State on Tuesday, the Lady Jackets were focused and ready to win. Their keen attention to detail and the overall hustle displayed were pivotal factors in the game. 

Starting strong in their season home opener, the Cedarville women’s basketball team defeated Roberts Wesleyan 77-42.

The Jackets had a strong defensive start that set the tone for the rest of the game. After an early 3-pointer from Brianna Zajicek, Cedarville set up a full-court press that caught Roberts Wesleyan off guard and forced them to call a timeout. The bench exploded with energy. 

“We all just played as a team and were so excited for everybody else’s achievements,” said Cedarville forward Chloe Downing. “The bench had great energy.” 

Cedarville’s excellent defensive positioning allowed them to force bad passes that resulted in 14 steals and a subsequent 14 fastbreak points. They were also able to draw multiple charges to get the ball back in their hands. 

“I’m really excited about the team that showed up tonight,” said head coach Addy Miller. “Obviously, Tuesday was tough, but we learned really fast.” 

In the third quarter, Cedarville doubled down on the defensive onslaught. They held Roberts Wesleyan to just three points as they added 15 more of their own to the scoreboard, further extending the lead. 

On the other side of the ball, Cedarville utilized the center position at the high post to set screens and make passes to players cutting to the hoop or popping out to the 3-point line. Roberts Wesleyan struggled defensively to keep up with the off-the-ball movement. 

Chloe Downing, with 19 points, was the top scorer of the night, going 5-for-7 from the three point line. In addition to her red-hot scoring, Downing had four of the team’s impressive 22 assists. On defense, Downing contributed two rebounds, one block, one steal and drew two charges. 

“We’ve harped on details the past three days, even in shootarounds this morning,” Downing said. “Whether it’s a pass, whether it’s eating the turnover, whatever it is, we talked a lot about details, and I think it showed for everybody on the floor.” 

Regan Hubert, with 16 points, came off the bench and significantly accelerated the pace of play with her hustle, contributing five rebounds, two assists and one steal.  

Other key players in the Jacket’s win include Cait Behling, who had 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. As well as Brianna Zajicek with eight points, six rebounds and two steals. 

Roberts Wesleyan struggled to get shots to fall, and their depth of scorers was shallow. Jada Mushat, who had 14 points, and Meaghan Doherty, with 8 points, both played well, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap on Cedarville’s lead.  

As the season picks up, the team is excited to keep proving themselves. The defense was always there, and now the shots are falling too, making the Yellow Jackets a dangerous team. 

On November 28 and 29, the Cedarville women’s basketball team will head to St. Petersburg, FL, for the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic, where they hope to keep the momentum going.  

“They really want to win and they really want to win for each other,” Coach Miller said. “Seeing success tonight was a lot of fun and a testament to their hard work.”