The Justice

With just under 15 minutes remaining in the second half of last Sunday's game against Case Western Reserve University, the women's basketball team was at a critical point, leading by just two points after surrendering a double-digit first-half lead. In last Friday's loss to Emory University, a similar letdown occurred in a 75-63 loss during a game the Judges led by as many as 20 points.

But this time, the Judges regained their touch. Just 17 seconds after entering the game, reserve forward Kasey Gieschen '10 hit a jumper from the right side, igniting a 28-11 run over the next 10 1/2 minutes that put away the Spartans 72-63. The win, which put the Judges into a tie for third place in the University Athletic Association, just one game back of No. 13 University of Rochester and No. 23 Washington University in St. Louis, who are currently tied at 7-2 in the conference.

"This [win] was big for us," Gieschen said. "We all just came out with a vengeance."

Guard and captain Jaime Capra '08 led the team with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but it was the bench, led by Gieschen and reserve point guard Lauren Rashford '10, that was key in putting away the game in the second half. The Judges' reserves outscored Case Western's 29-18, including 20-9 in the second half.

"The group that came off the bench really gave us a nice spark," coach Carol Simon said. "Defensively, I thought they did a fantastic job, and that was the key. When that group came in, defensively, we got some good stops, and then we got some good looks inside. … It allowed some of the starters to get rest towards the end."

A Capra jumper from the left side of the court gave the Judges a 29-18 lead with 4:48 seconds left in the first half. Case Western cut the lead to 29-23 at halftime and closed to within 34-32 before the Judges' 28-11 run, capped by a three-point play by forward and captain Cassidy Dadaos '09.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools