Edison State Stays Perfect at Home: Chargers Win 58-54

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

The Edison State Chargers women's basketball team had a perfect home record of 4-0 this season and an overall record of 11-3 heading into Tuesday night's game against tough opponent Schoolcraft College (Mich.), who came in 7-1 overall. Riding the momentum from a 71-70 overtime win at Owens on December 16, and freshman Allison Hughes being named OCCAC Basketball Player of the Week for December 11–17 they were set to defend their home turf at Edison State on Tuesday.

The Chargers would struggle throughout the first period, not scoring their first points until the ten-minute remaining mark, with Edison State trailing 12-3. The Lady Chargers would come roaring back from that point, rallying behind outstanding performances from several players: Abby Yukon, the freshman combo Guard/Forward, was the Chargers' leading scorer, posting 18 points, six rebounds, and hitting in the clutch with six for seven from the line, Matea Bartel posted 12 points and was the third leading scorer of the night for Edison State, and last weeks OCCAC Basketball Player of the Week Allison Hughes grabbed 16 rebounds. Behind the strengths of Allison Hughes, Raegan Beverly, Abby Yukon, Paxton Hunley, Matea Bartel, and an all-around strong team effort they would rally to take the lead with 2:08 remaining in the first half 23-22. The Lady Chargers would go into halftime, tailing the Ocelots 27-26.

The Lady Chargers would continue to fight and battle throughout the game, capitalizing from the foul line and every other opportunity they were given. There was 6:14 remaining in the game, and Coach Tim McMahon's ladies were running out of time, trailing 50-48, yet they refused to allow their perfect home record to be dented for 2023.

At 5:26 left in the game, Edison State would take the lead 52-50 and not relinquish it from there. Unfortunately for the Lady Chargers at the 1:45 mark of the game, sophomore Paxton Hunley, who had been key and the second leading scorer of the night with 15 points, to their push went down with an apparent foot or possibly an ankle injury and was helped off the court, she would not return our best wishes out to her.

The Chargers would hold off the Ocelots after a timeout at 32.9 seconds to win the game with the final score of 58-54. The team shot 56.7% from the line, and with a total of 30 attempts from the line, hitting in the clutch made a difference on this night. The Chargers The ladies next see action at home on January 10, 2024, on Charger Country Night against Hocking College. With the win, the ladies improved to 11-4 overall and a third-place 1-1 record in the OCCAC.