Lady Chargers Remain Perfect at Home and Gain Ground in OCCAC

Article by Rob K. Winkle, Jr., B.A. | Photos by Reflections by Rob, LLC

The Edison State women's team would close out a cold day of Saturday doubleheader action at Charger Gymnasium in Piqua by evening up their season record with visiting Terra State, who defeated them on November 29, 2023, in Fremont.

The Lady Chargers would also put their perfect 5-0 home record on the line against the Titans. The Chargers entered today's contest 12-4 (2-1) and Terra State 8-5 (3-1), placing 3rd and 2nd in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC), respectively. The Chargers were determined to change their conference standing while defending their home court today.

The Chargers would receive an unlimited supply of firepower from their already charged offense today, including Freshman Guard Morgan Allen (Tecumseh HS), who would total second on the team in points with 15, a season/career-high in her first year with Edison State.

OCCAC Player of the Week (POTW) (December 18 - 24) Freshman Abby Yukon (Graham HS) would lead the team's scoring with 22 points and tied for the game in rebounds at 8, posting double digits for the 14th time in 17 games played this season. Two-time POTW Freshman Allison Hughes (Parkway HS) would be 3rd in scoring with 12 points and dominate the boards with eight rebounds. Bartel and Sophomore Reagan Beverly (Clermont Northeastern) would lend strong support on the boards with six each. Beverly dropping in 7 points and dishing a team-leading five assists would complete a total performance from the Sophomore Guard.

Though the score would reflect the Chargers' pure offensive firepower, the team also played aggressive and smart defense, posting several takeaways and blocks. There was no one defensive star; the Chargers as a whole team played well on that side of the ball, but the aggressive constant defense of Sophomore Makenzee Maschino (Troy HS), Freshman Emma Garber (Tecumseh HS), and Freshman Ania Pearson (Lima Shawnee HS) were players that made several huge plays to contain and control the usually high-powered Titans offensive unit. The Chargers would hold the Titans scoreless at 15-0 until just under the three-minute mark in the 1st quarter; that quarter would end with only 1 point allowed on a free-throw, 23-1.

The Terra State Titans would find some offense before half-time, but only enough to draw to a 47-17 halftime score Chargers lead. The 3rd quarter would remain much of the same cohesive ball movement, stingy defense, and lights-out scoring would continue to propel the Chargers forward in this contest. Throughout the game, every Charger that played scored at least once. Bartel posted 10 points. Freshman Aminata Dicko (Central Crossing HS), another player ever present on both sides of the ball, scored 8, and Sophomore Paxton Hunley (Miami East HS) put up 7 to contribute to the win.

The Lady Chargers would not allow Terra State to gain momentum from the beginning, increasing their home record to 6-0 and moving up to second in the OCCAC standings with a final score of 91-38. Ball control, as evidenced by the result, was nearly flawless by the ladies with only 7 TO, 12 steals (Hughes 3), six blocks, 23 assists, and 50 rebounds.

With today's huge win, the women improved to 13-4 (3-1) and a 2nd-place position in the OCCAC behind a 4-5 (1-0) Lakeland team that has suffered several cancellations and postponements. The ladies are back in action at Charger gymnasium at Edison State's Piqua campus on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 5:30 pm versus fourth place OCCAC opponent Owens CC 8-7 (2-2). Including that game, the women have twelve games remaining, eleven of which are OCCAC opponents.