The Marian University Ancilla women's basketball team finished the first half of the season on a high note, defeating Clark State Community College, 61-56. The Chargers began their regular season on November 1st at Clark State, falling by 10 points, so the second meeting at Charger Arena was a welcomed opportunity for them to show their growth over the past two months, and they did just that.
The Chargers came out with a defensive mindset, limiting the Eagles to just 10 first quarter points. However, both teams dealt with turnovers throughout the contest, so it was just a 14-10 lead after one period. The pace picked up quite a bit in the second stanza, as Clark State outscored the Chargers 20-18, cutting the deficit to just two points heading into the half.
When both teams returned to the floor, the third quarter was much like the first, as both teams battled effortlessly just to manage a bucket at times, but the Chargers remained on top, 43-41, heading into the final ten minutes. The Chargers were able to build a 12-point lead midway through the fourth quarter due to great defense, but then needed to make free throws down the stretch to hold on, finally securing the win, 61-56.
Freshman wing De'Mour Watson again posted a double-double with 27 points and 16 rebounds. She added a pair of steals and a pair of blocked shots at the defensive end of the floor. 5-7 Sophomore wing Samaria Freeman was great defensively, as usual, oftentimes playing out of position against girls 6-0 to 6-3 in height. At the same time, she put together one of her best offensive performances of the year, scoring 17 points for Marian Ancilla. Freshman guard Brooklynn Cooper was big off the bench as well, playing extended minutes and scoring three big buckets for 6 points on the afternoon.
Clark State was led by Camille Fultz with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Kayla Reeves also scored in double figures with 10 points, while Ayendia Kimble was strong on the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds, 6 of which came at the offensive end of the floor.
Charger Head Coach Ryan Gould was thrilled with his team's performance, exclaiming "I am very pleased with the effort, energy, and teamwork we displayed today. Everyone, including the bench, was engaged from beginning to end, supporting each other, and working together to win this game as one team. I feel like it is a great building block heading into our holiday break, as we beat a team who had previously beaten us earlier this year."
The MUAC women's basketball team now takes a couple of weeks away from the court to celebrate the holidays. They will return to action on Saturday, January 6th, when they travel to Olive-Harvey College. Tip time is set for 2:00 p.m. ET in the Chicago suburbs. The Chargers would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!!
