2012-13 Goldey-Beacom College Women's Basketball
Game 16: at Bloomfield (7-6, 4-2)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 | 1 p.m. | Bloomfield Gym (Bloomfield, N.J.)
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Complete Goldey-Beacom Game Notes in PDF Format
Opening Tip-Off
Looking to begin the 2013 calendar year on a positive note, the Lightning women's basketball team will resume its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule on Saturday afternoon by visiting Bloomfield for a 1 p.m. contest against the Deacons. Live stats and video for Saturday's game at the Bloomfield Gym will be available via the Deacons' official athletics website, www.bcdeacons.com.
Updating the Lightning
The Lightning will be looking to rebound from a tough 82-69 loss against 18th-ranked and defending NCAA champion Shaw University in their final non-conference game of the regular season on Dec. 28 at the Jones Center. Senior guard Jacinda Jones led the Lightning by scoring 18 points, including a four-for-eight performance from three-point range. She also posted a season-high eight rebounds for the Lightning, who had a three-game home win streak snapped. Senior guard Devonne Richardson is the Lightning's leading scorer with a 13.9 average after scoring 10 points against the Lady Bears last Friday. She also ranks fourth in the CACC by averaging 9.9 rebounds per game.
Scouting Bloomfield
Currently 7-6 overall and 4-2 in the CACC, the Deacons will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Lightning on Saturday afternoon. The Deacons, who will be playing at home for the first time since Dec. 17, dropped an 80-68 CACC verdict against Post University on Thursday evening. Junior guard Iliriana Lulgjuraj led the Deacons by scoring 15 points with a game-high six steals while sophomore Tierra Scott contributed a season-high 12 points with eight rebounds. Junior guard Ivettlis Castro is the Deacons' leading scorer with an 11.9 average while senior forward Shaniqua Bacote leads the team by averaging 5.2 rebounds per contest.
A Look at Last Year's Meeting
Senior forward Irene Hudson scored a game-high 18 points, including the go-ahead lay-up with 1:07 remaining in regulation, as the Lightning overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to post a 64-61 victory over the Deacons at the Joseph West Jones College Center. The Lightning, who trailed for most of the game, used a 17-2 run in the final 5:43 to earn the win over the Deacons. In addition to her 18 points, Hudson added a game-high 12 rebounds while senior guard Devonne Richardson contributed 15 points with nine rebounds. Junior guard Ivettlis Castro paced the Deacons with 15 points and six assists.
Series Business: Bloomfield
Saturday's game between the Lightning and the Deacons will mark the 17th meeting between the teams since the start of the 2002-03 season. Bloomfield leads the series by a 9-7 margin, but Goldey-Beacom has won five of the last seven meetings, including each of the last two outings. The teams have met once in the postseason during the last 10 seasons when Goldey-Beacom edged Bloomfield by a 62-57 margin in the 2011 CACC quarterfinals at Holy Family. A list of the last six meetings is available in the PDF version of the notes.
Closing the Books on 2012
As the calendar changes from 2012 to 2013, here are a few notes to cap off a successful calendar year for the Lightning women's basketball team:
• The Lightning posted a 20-11 record during the 2012 calendar year, including an outstanding 17-4 mark against CACC opponents ... They lost just four games in the 2012 portion of last season, including 9 of their final 11 games.
• The Lightning set a school record by winning six consecutive games against CACC opponents from Jan. 24 to Feb. 9 ... Two of those games required overtime - an 83-80 win at Philadelphia University on Jan. 26 and a 71-69 victory against Philadelphia University on Feb. 9.
• Senior guard Devonne Richardson led the Lightning by averaging 13.6 points per game during the 2012 calendar year ... She also scored in double figures in 24 of the Lightning's 31 games, including a 27-point performance against Post in a 75-59 victory on Jan. 28.
• Richardson and senior forward Irene Hudson both became members of the Goldey-Beacom College 1,000-Point Club during the 2012 calendar year ... Hudson scored 24 points in the Lightning's 75-64 win over Concordia on Feb. 18 to become the sixth player to reach the mark while Richardson accomplished the feat in the Lightning's win over Kutztown on Nov. 12.
Hudson to Play in 100th Career Game
Senior forward Irene Hudson is expected to become the ninth player in Goldey-Beacom College women's basketball history to play in at least 100 career games when the Lightning travel to Bloomfield on Saturday afternoon. The fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,184 points, Hudson has started 39 games over the last two seasons, including 13 of 15 games this year. In addition, Hudson ranks sixth in school history with 589 rebounds. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Hudson will join seniors Ashley Rosario and Devonne Richardson as current players who have appeared in at least 100 career games.
Richardson Recognized by CACC for Holiday Performances
Senior guard Devonne Richardson was named as an honorable mention selection for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference weekly awards after leading the Lightning to a split of their games against Chestnut Hill and 18th-ranked Shaw. The Baltimore, Md. native averaged 17.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, including a season-high 24 points against the Griffins in the Lightning's 66-52 victory on Dec. 19. It is the fourth time this year Richardson has been recognized by the CACC, including a pair of Player of the Week awards on Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.
Another Quest for 1,000 for Richardson
Senior guard Devonne Richardson has the opportunity to become the second player in school history to record 1,000 career rebounds when the Lightning play at Bloomfield on Saturday. Despite being limited to just six rebounds against 18th-ranked Shaw last Friday afternoon, the Baltimore, Md. native ranks second in school history with 993 career rebounds and needs 34 rebounds to become the school's all-time leader. With 148 rebounds in 15 games this season, Richardson ranks fourth in the CACC with a 9.9 average. When she reaches 1,000 career rebounds, Richardson will join Kim Rowley (2003-07) as the only players in school history with 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. A list of the top 10 leaders is available in the PDF version of the notes.
Too Close for Comfort
Of the Lightning's eight victories this season, five of them have been decided by seven points or less. In addition, the Lightning have won two of their games this year with a field goal in the closing seconds of regulation. On Nov. 12, senior guard Jacinda Jones gave Goldey-Beacom a 67-66 victory at Kutztown with a field goal with two seconds remaining. Senior guard Devonne Richardson scored on a lay-up with 5.8 seconds left in regulation on Dec. 8 to break a 53-53 tie against Caldwell.
What's Ahead for Goldey-Beacom
The Lightning will return home on Tuesday, Jan. 8 to face Wilmington University at 8 p.m. in the second meeting between the two teams this season. Led by 22 points and 13 rebounds from senior guard Devonne Richardson, the Lightning posted an 84-53 victory in the first meeting on Dec. 10.
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