It may have only been the fourth game into the season, but having lost their last two games the Lady Pioneers needed to find a way to pull off a big victory against Chestnut Hill.
The Pioneers were trailing late in the game, but instead of sitting back and losing a close one, the lady Pioneers stepped up. Felicia Joyner, who finished with 18 points and five assists, came up clutch for the Pioneers, driving to the hoop to give them the lead with just 5:49 left to play. The Pioneers never looked back after trailing or being tied for most of the game, winning 73-71 to even their record to 2-2.
Post shot .519 from the field, compared to Chestnut Hill which shot just .393. The 73 points from the lady Pioneers was the highest output from the squad since January, 23, 2010 when they beat NYIT 75-50.
While the Pioneers have shot well from the floor, and have played much better then there record indicates, one spot could come back to haunt them. So far in this season the Pioneers have managed to shoot 69% from the free throw line. Not a bad percentage at all, but with all the close games that the Pioneers have played so far, if the Pioneers could get the percentage up to just 75% or a bit higher, it would favor the Pioneers and give them more breathing room.
The lady Pioneers came into the season with high expectations, and have showed why they are expected to fight for the ECC championship. If the 2-2 record is any concern, it seems to be a recent trend that the lady Pioneers start out slow. Look to last season, the Pioneers were 3-3 in their first six games and then found their way winning 11 straight games, going 17-6 after the first six games. There is still a lot of basketball left to play, and if the team can continue to get excellent play from ECC player of the week Janea Akins and the rest of her teammates, the season will be a memorable one.
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