Luke Whitehouse
@Lwhitehouse12
SPRINGFIELD – The Pride made an offensive statement Wednesday night in their home finale, breaking multiple records en route to a 107-77 win over Clark.
With 5:13 in the fourth quarter, forward Claire Finney sank the 14th 3-pointer of the game for Springfield, setting the program record for three-point makes and attempts in a single game.
The Pride also scored the most points in a single game with 107 since transitioning from Division III in 1995.
“I think it’s amazing,” head coach Naomi Graves said. “I think this team is peaking at the right time. We told them before the game ‘go get it, its your last home game of the regular season.’”
Despite losing by 30, Clark made the Pride work early, leading by two after the first quarter.
But after that, Graves implemented a Springfield special, the full-court press.
“We didn’t want to start with the press because [Clark] starts different lineups,” Graves said. “I thought the press was the secret. When we pressed them, they didn’t make good decisions. And that’s when we took the lead and never looked back.”
Thanks to their defense, the Pride forced 27 turnovers and scored nearly half their points off of them (46).
It’s one thing to press all game, and it’s another thing to have success doing it – but Graves knows her players and what they are capable of.
“They have the killer instinct in the press,” she said. “Our athleticism shows and we [become] much more aggressive.”
Guard Rachel Vinton knew what was about to happen when her coach made the switch.
“We thrive off of it,” Vinton said. “It gets us a lot of steals, and if it’s a loose ball, any one of us is going to dive on the floor after it.”
The Pride proceeded to go on a 23-5 run midway through the quarter, and ultimately led by 57-41 at the half.
However, the Cougars wouldn’t go away.
Kailey Rios hit a pull up jumper midway through the third quarter to pull within 15, giving Clark some life.
Jaélen Daubon was the one to deliver the response for the Pride to keep the game out of reach. The senior forward hit a three and then immediately stole the ball, proceeding to the rim for the and-one.
This was only a snapshot of Daubon’s career night, as she dropped a career-high 29 points on five three’s, while also stuffing the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, while shooting 63% from the field.
“I feel like it started in practice beforehand,” Daubon said. “I just had the confidence coming into the game.”
With the win, Springfield improved to 20-4 on the season, and will travel to Boston on Saturday as they close their season out against Emerson.
But tonight, Graves and the Pride showed what they are made of.
“I wanted it to be a statement game, and I told them that before the game,” she said. “I think good teams have an edge, and that edge is they aren’t going to be denied. There are some teams that stay the same and I don’t want to have that – I want to see them go.”
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics