The Ursuline Arrows defeated the Cedarville Yellow Jackets in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship Game on Saturday.
It was a great game that went down to the wire.
Ursuline and Cedarville went back and forth for the first three quarters, but the Yellow Jackets jumped out to an eight-point lead early in the fourth.
Ursuline fought back, thanks to some timely three-pointers, big steals, and clutch free throws down the stretch.
Two of Ursuline’s star players, Laney Lewis (G-MAC Player of the Year) and Camryn Hill were in foul trouble for much of the fourth quarter, as each one was a foul away from being out of the game, but the frontcourt duo stayed out of trouble and helped the Arrows seal the 72-65 victory.
Hill scored a game-high 19 points, knocking down four three pointers on eight attempts.
Lewis scored 16 points, grabbing nine rebounds.
Erica Huber scored 13 points and the scrappy guard, who hustles non-stop, fought for eight rebounds. Huber dives for loose balls left and right every game, and the championship was no exception.
Brigan Wymer scored 11 points in the contest and the other starting member of the backcourt, Natalie Koenig swiped five steals in the game.
The facilitator, Christiana Jefferson, scored seven points off the bench and dished out eight assists.
It was a valiant effort from Cedarville, but in the end their 23 turnovers, opposed to Ursuline’s seven, may have been the story of the game.
The Arrows wore shirts before the game that read “Started from the Bottom, Now We’re Here,” referencing a song by the rapper/singer Drake.
But those words ring especially true for Ursuline.
The gorgeous gymnasium where the Arrows have been dominant all season only exists today because their old gym was destroyed by a tornado in 2013.
A year and a half later, the Arrows were hoisting the G-MAC Trophy and cutting the nets on their beautiful new home floor.
The journey is not over for Ursuline now. The next stop is the Midwest Regional of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Arrows are 25-3 on the season. It’s been a magical run to follow.
On a personal note, along with writing for NEO Sports Insiders, I have spent this season as the Arrows’ PA Announcer. Although I just began this position in November, I feel like a part of the team in a way.
When Ursuline was announced as host of the conference tournament, I was told to refrain from being biased, and could not appear to cheer one way or another.
This was a difficult task, especially in the championship.
But when the game was over, I was elated and it was an emotional experience to see the players and team that I have followed from the start of the season reach one of the pinnacles of each of their athletic careers.
Seeing their tears of joy and smiles across everybody’s faces was awesome!
These young ladies have worked so hard and have so much fun on the court together.
I can’t wait to see how they do in the NCAA Tournament and knowing how great this team is I wouldn’t want to be the team that has to face them in a do-or-die game.
Congratulations to the Ursuline Arrows!
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