Basketball stays in title hunt with win over Geneva
By Natalie Hanna · Staff Writer
The Grove City women’s basketball team earned a 94-66 victory on Feb. 4 on the road against Geneva. This game brought their overall record to 13-7 and their PAC record to 7-4. The victory also completed their season sweep of Geneva and allowed them to continue to maintain their share of first place in the North Division with Allegheny.
The top contributors on the offensive front were senior center Meredith Sherrerd, who shot for 21 points, senior guard Reese Hasley, who added 19 points and junior forward Brooke McCoy, with 13 points.
The Wolverines jumped right into the action with a 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, and after a three-pointer from sophomore forward Kailey Devlin, as well as senior center Emma Ulmer’s jumper, they further extended the lead to 42-19.
By halftime, Geneva had rallied their offense and lessened the gap to 46-29. Four minutes into the second half, Grove City’s lead shrunk to 51-41, but the team was able to break away again with a three-pointer from junior guard Sarah Pifer and three consecutive three-pointers from McCoy. This drove them into the fourth quarter with a 73-50 lead. This game marked the Wolverines’ highest single-game field-goal percentage of the season: 53%.
According to McCoy, the team’s biggest strength in this game was the speed and intensity they brought to the court.
“That pace allowed us to create easy baskets, put pressure on the defense and really make a dent on the scoreboard,” McCoy said.
Junior guard Bethany Thompson had her first start of the season during this game and recorded five assists. Hasley had four assists and led the team with nine rebounds, Sherrerd and Thompson each contributing six. The Wolverines finished the game with a 45-39 edge on the glass.
The team’s skill paired with their chemistry and close bond were key factors in leading Grove City to the victory.
“Our team is very close, and we genuinely enjoy being around each other both on and off the court. That off-the-court chemistry builds trust on the court and allows us to play free and joyful,” McCoy said.
The team is always looking to emphasize consistent defensive communication, recognizing that as the game goes on, it becomes harder to stay vocal, but they are continuing to work on getting better at it as a team, especially for their upcoming games.
The Wolverines will face the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets at home tomorrow for Senior Day after their matchup against Allegheny on Wednesday.
The Yellow Jackets are a great team with talented shooters, and the Wolverines are looking forward to competing against them on Senior Day. Come support the team and its seniors at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the Grove City College Arena!
