Lady Jags fight hard despite loss
Robert Parker
Issue date: 1/13/09 Section: Sports
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The ladies kept pace with the Pacers, keeping the score neck-and-neck throughout the first half. Porsha White led a strong offensive, making several key plays to keep the Jags in it early on.
An aggressive game is what kept the ladies in it, but several early fouls hurt the Jags when the Pacers were put into bonus, thus giving the Pacer's extra foul shots.
Despite the early advantage, the Jaguars managed to keep ahead throughout most of the first half of the game.
"I mean we're an aggressive team," Head Coach Tes Sobomehin said, "but refs call the game, and we have to learn how to adjust to what's been called. (In) our game against Georgia College, (the referees) let a lot of those little bumps go; tonight they didn't, and we have to learn to adjust."
The extra free throws were what put USC ahead for the first time in the game, with only five minutes remaining in the first half, but Jasmine Godwin's 3-pointer, and Nicole Mealing's layup kept the Lady Jags in the game with the Pacers leading 38-33 at halftime .
In the second half, the Jaguars kept right on trucking with Godwin shooting a 3-pointer, followed by a jump shot, keeping within 10 points of USC Aiken.
Heavy fouling on the Jaguars' side put USC Aiken back into a early bonus in the second half, but with four minutes remaining in the game, the Jags were also reaping the benefits of bonus free throws.
In the NCAA, bonus free throws are awarded when the opposing team accumulates seven fouls per period, thus allowing the player fouled to take a "one and one" shot, meaning if the player makes the first foul shot, then he is given another.
Godwin, with two layups and a foul shot, put the game at 63-65, with USC Aiken barely leading. With a minute and a half remaining in the game, Godwin then shot a huge 3-pointer to put the Jags back ahead, thus igniting the crowd as everyone left their seat.
Godwin shot a career high against the Pacers, racking in 26 shots and eight rebounds, while Mealing had 13 points and eight rebounds, as well.
On dealing with the pressure of leading a second half comeback, Godwin said, "Honestly, it's not any pressure for me. I'm used to it; I've done it."
Godwin, who's been playing basketball since the eighth grade, saID she's been dealing with that kind of pressure all throughout high school.
"Coming in here and having the help that I've got is great," Godwin said, "but I mean, it never bothered me; when we're down we've got to get back up."
Despite the powerhouse run lead by Godwin in the second half, the Pacers put up two shots with a minute remaining and kept the Jags from scoring at a crucial point in the game. USC Aiken pulled out by a hair at the end, beating the Jags 72-68.
"I have great teammates that have my back and trust me with the ball, and unfortunately, we just fell a little short," Godwin said after the game.
The Lady Jags, who are now 3-7, 1-2 in the Peach Belt Conference, face off against UNC Pembroke at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.
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