While the rest of the College community was sleeping in, overeating and relaxing at their homes throughout December and January, the women’s basketball team was busy with their unrelenting schedule during the break. With games resuming on Dec. 29, the Lions went quickly to work, securing a 73-51 win over Apprentice School and resuming their season with a bang.
With five wins and four losses, the Lions (12-6, 6-3) battled hard and remain at the top of their game. During the past week, the College played three games, the first against Moravian College on Monday, Jan. 14. The College battled to a 60-53 win, over a school with only one prior loss.
With the Lions remaining in charge throughout the entire game, things got tight in the final minutes, with the Lions leading 35-32. However, sophomore guard Kelly Coughlin provided the team with a three-pointer and sophomore forward Jessica Goldbach followed with a field goal to secure the lead. The Greyhounds then pulled up close again with a score of 49-47, but Goldbach sent a shot from behind the three-point arc and pulled the lead away again.
Coughlin and senior center/forward Candace Vigo led the team with 12 points each for the Lions, while Goldbach broke double digits.
The second game of the week came against William Paterson University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game, but unfortunately the Lions fell in a 59-45 loss. Coming off of their high from their win against Moravian, they were disappointed with their play in the first half of the game.
Only six minutes into the game, their opponents climbed to a 17-2 lead and the Lions could not come back. The Pioneers were able to collect 26 rebounds, opposed to the Lions’ 17. Had the College been able to capitalize on more, they might have had different results, but the Pioneers were too dominant.
Although the Lions did score more than the Pioneers in the second half, 26-20, they could not close the gap.
Despite a hard loss, the Lions fought hard and were led by junior forward/center Liz West with a total of 13 points, followed by junior guard Tiffany DeTulio and Vigo.
The final game of the week was more satisfying for the Lions, coming as a 49-37 victory over Kean University. The Lions scored an easy seven points as soon as the game began, and the shots kept coming from there.
With the lead alternating between teams consistently throughout the game, it was a nail-biter, but came down to stellar Lion play. DeTulio had another great game with 12 points, while West provided six with six rebounds. Goldbach had a career high 12 rebounds.
“We feel pretty confident that if we play our game and focus on what we need to do, good things will happen for us,” junior guard Kelly Roddy said. “Different people have been stepping up every game and that is great to see.”
The 27th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day has been set for Jan. 26 and will take place in Packer Hall. This is a chance for young players to come out and meet the Lions and watch as they take on Ramapo College.
