That’s more like it!
After a troubling loss to #17 Francis Marion University last Friday night, John Carrick and his Georgia College Bobcats bounced back quickly in defeating the UNC Pembroke Braves this past Sunday 61-56.
The Bobcats were led by junior guard Chimere Jordan again with 24 points. Jordan connected on five of her ten three-pointers in the contest. Junior guard Dominique Huffin was also stellar, chipping in with 10 points.
Senior center Antoinette Reames lassoed 12 rebounds, eight which came on the offensive glass.
The best way to describe the win for GCSU came by way of the three-pointer. Averaging just over six made per game, Georgia College nearly doubled that mark, going 12-27 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
Tonight, the Bobcats are back at it. This time, it’s the North Georgia College & State University Saints in town making the trip from Georgia’s city of gold to the antebellum capital.
The Saints stand at 8-10 and 3-6 in the Peach Belt Conference west division. Georgia College sits at 14-5 and 7-2 in the PBC-west. The GCSU mark in conference action is good for first place, along with Clayton State University.
Therefore, this game is crucial. Moreso for the Bobcats because on paper this a team Georgia College “should” beat.
The Saints have a dynamic one-two punch in the paint with freshman forward Janyce Ealey (14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds per game) and senior forward Whitney Randolph (17.7 points, 9.3 rebounds).
North Georgia relies on the post play heavily. Winners of their past three games, the Saints are getting 84 percent of their points from the forward and center positions. Fifty-three percent of those points have come from Ealey and Randolph.
So, what are the keys to the game for GCSU?
1) The Bobcat post players (Reames and junior Tammeisha Law) must have focus and energy in the paint tonight when guarding Ealey and Randolph. Those two must limit the touches and effectiveness of the Saint post players.
2) Head Coach John Carrick has said all season that when his players bring energy to the floor, the team is successful. Saying that, Georgia College must bring enthusiasm when hitting the floor this evening.
3) Rebounding is always key when dealing with the Bobcat women. GCSU was outrebounded in the past two games combined 89-74. Despite Reames crashing the glass, some players also have to establish a want to get rebounds.
4) Tonight, I’ll be keying in on the senior point guard Shandrea Moore of Georgia College. Moore has been struggling of late, averaging 3.6 points per game in the last six outings. Carrick has stuck with Moore, and I don’t blame him. While Moore is struggling offensively with point production, her overall maturity level is needed on the floor for GCSU to be successful. Moore brings energy, focus and overall basketball savvy to the game each time out.
5) I think it’s understood now that we are all watching the sensational play of Jordan. The junior has been in double figures in six straight games and has put up 20+ in three of the past four matches.
Another Peach Belt Conference division battle on tap this evening! It’s the battle of the “and State Universities” tonight!
Nothing like being on the home pitch, either! (Game three of this current four-game home swing)
Talk with you at 5:25 on Peach Belt TV (http://www.pennatlantic.com/ – free telecast after signing up)!
No comments:
Post a Comment