Notes on a Sunday Afternoon To/From Easton Pa. and Lafayette College
- To get to Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., you have to drive through Phillipsburg, NJ and cross one of the classic half-moon arched bridges over the Delaware River. The whole area is based on the proximity to each other. Heck, Phillipsburg High is nick-named the "State-Liners." Phillipsburg is also home to Irish point guard Olivia Miles, which is probably a major reason this game was scheduled.
- Once you go over the bridge, you turn right and drive up a steep road to College Hill, where Lafayette is situated. The Kirby Sports Center is located behind the football stadium endzone. It is a 3,500 (?) arena, with seat backs and padded chairs on the side and bleachers behind the baskets.
- While not a sell-out, it was close: 1/3 of the people were Lafayette fans (season ticket holders or students), 1/3 had crossed those bridges from Phillipsburg to see Olivia Miles. (Before going to Blair Academy, 'Liv went to school in Phillipsburg and she is immensely popular.) And I was among the other 1/3: ND fans who had come to see the Irish during their one trip to the Mid-Atlantic region. Prevailing color: Green (even though the Irish wore green).
- This game was essentially over by the end of the 28-13 first quarter and very much done by halftime. Still, credit to Lafayette for playing hard throughout and getting effective performances throughout by Sauda Ntaconayigize from Quebec and Kay Donahue, a tough 5'10" guard from Montgomery, NJ. Once Abby Antognoli -- the Panther's leading scorer -- got her first bucket in the third quarter, she finished with 9 points and a relieved smile not to have to deal with Hannah Hidalgo anymore. Hannah tomahawked an Antognoli jumper into the side seats, resulting in audible gasps from the crowd and AA...laughing.
Highlights for the Irish:
- Scoring-wise, the Irish were simply a force, with superior size and passing. If it wasn't for a sub-par shooting game by Soni and lots of missed chippies (Kate, in particular), the Irish would've scored 110 in this one.
- Watch out for ...Emma Risch. The 6'1" guard shot 4-7 from three and almost all of them looked like they were going in. She delivers up high and no one is blocking that shot.
- She's fast and flexible...Cass Prosper didn't score a lot beyond her two 3's and a layup, but her defense was outstanding. She often joined Hannah harassing the Panthers in the backcourt. She can get low to the ground to cover smaller players than lengthen herself to cover forwards when Kate was out. My wife was impressed: "she works hard. Really hard."
- Wonder if....Sonia Citron's foot/ankle is still bothering her. While her release on jumpers looked ok, a lot were spinning out and she was missing layups she normally cans. On defense, she got beat to the hoop twice by Donahue who, while technically sound, isn't quick.
- ND has four superb passers in the half-court: Miles, Hidalgo, Citron and Koval . Once Koval delivers all of her passes with a bit more zing, it will be lights out.
- You just shake your head ....when the ND bench walks by at halftime and you see Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King, Liza Karlen, KK Bransford and Kylee Watson (also glad to be home in Jersey).
- In the second half, it seemed either Koval (19 rebounds), Miles (11 rebounds) or Citron (9 rebounds) cleared the defensive boards.
-- Every little kid not cheering for Miles was doing so for ....Hidalgo. Multiple signs for #3. When HH hits the floor and slides, they cheer. Loudly. And they all mimic her shimmies. Kids see a lot of them in Hannah.
and lastly...
- I wore a long-steeve gray t-shirt with a blue and yellow map of Ukraine in honor of our starting center. I walked around at halftime and not one Irish or Lafayette fan picked up on this until...a young guy shouts out: are you from there? I said 'no," why do you ask? And he goes, because I am, from Kyiv." He got up and I found myself talking to 6'11" Misha Bednostin, sophomore center for Lafayette's Men's Hoops Team, from Ukraine via Crestwood Prep in Canada. I asked him if he knew (of) Kate and he said "of course." Why don't you go introduce yourself, I asked. "Never, she's busy and so popular." Who knew Kyiv centers are shy boys? Or Koval's fame precedes her?
