Luke Whitehouse
@Lwhitehouse12
Despite starting slow, Springfield College cruised to a 79-56 win over Wheaton College on Saturday to improve to 15-4 on the season.
The Pride nearly doubled their point total in the second half.
“I thought we kicked butt in the third quarter,” Springfield head coach Naomi Graves said. “I thought our kids woke up. I thought the two-two-one press really saved us.”
After allowing 16 first-quarter points, the Pride went to work on the defensive end, holding the Lyons to just six points in the second and 12 in the third – while also finding its rhythm on the other end.
“Our defense is our offense,” Graves said. “We are the best team in the open court. So when we create a turnover, we want to go and attack the basket.”
After clinging to just a three-point halftime lead, the Pride exploded in the second half in-part to forward Jaelen Daubon and guard Rachel Vinton.
Daubon, who only scored three points in five first-half minutes, put up 21 points in 20 minutes and finished with a career-high 24 points on 73% shooting.
Vinton on the other hand scored 20 points, including 16 in the second half and went 4-5 from downtown.
“I think that it really helps that your teammates are passing it to you and they believe in you to make that shot,” Vinton said. “So I would give credit credit to them.”
The duo also alluded to the ability to get stops on the defensive end and how it impacted their performances in the second half.
“It’s like a transfer of energy,” Daubon said. “I fed off of my teammates doing well. When I see Rachel getting a steal on defense that gives me more energy to go and finish also on the offensive end.”
Vinton added: “It all started with our defense – everyone just locked down on [that end] and we got a bunch of steals and that led to our offense.”
Defensive struggles in the fourth quarter plagued Springfield, but to make up for it, the offense went to another level – racking up 33 points on 72% shooting.
“Shooting the ball the way we did is good,” Graves said. “I think we were sharing the ball. So we were challenging [Wheaton’s] zone [defense] to have to move and I thought our players did amazing.”
The Pride moved to 4-1 in conference play and have now won three straight as they head into Wednesday nights matchup at Mount Holyoke.
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics