Rewriting the Narrative: Women’s Basketball vs. St Joe’s Game Recap
Beanie Pechefsky ‘26
The Gryphons discussing strategy during a timeout. Photo by team manager Irandi Zepeda ‘26
In a projection by D3 datacast, there was a 99 percent probability that the Sarah Lawrence women’s basketball team would lose their game against St. Joe’s University, Long Island (SJLI), 72 to 45. On Nov. 19, they proved this projection to be entirely inaccurate, clinching their first conference win of the season. For the second time in school history, Sarah Lawrence emerged victorious over SJLI. This is how it happened.
The team drove out to Patchhogue at nightfall, ready to swoop in and rip the game from the talons of the Golden Eagles. Sarah Theriault’s ‘29 jump shot put the Gryphons in the lead first, but the score went back and forth throughout the first quarter. Just before the buzzer sounded, Audrey Mattison ‘28 made a basket that put the Gryphons within one point of the Eagles. In the second quarter, St Joe’s Long Island extended their lead, datacast’s projection looming in the air. In the locker room during halftime, the Gryphons began surmising a new plan and a new mentality.
“At halftime we were down and honestly not playing our best, but something clicked for us,” says Gabby Hudson ‘26, “We came out in the second half with way more urgency and confidence.” The third quarter started with eight SJLI turnovers. Datacast’s projection was drowned out as the Gryphon’s bench got louder and louder.
Assistant Coach Ben Piacquadio describes the strategic changes that created the shift in energy: “Once we started to have different looks in our offense, with different people screening, it opened things up for one of our biggest plays of the night.” The specific play he’s referring to is a screen set by Jade Ling Eng-Stewart ‘29, which allowed Colleen Coughlin ‘26 to score. The Gryphons and Eagles were still neck and neck going into the final quarter, but this pivotal play set the tone for the rest of the game.
Each player had a part in rewriting the narrative engraved in the walls of the Danzi Athletic Center. Kaila Dorch ‘26 played an outstanding defense, preventing St Joe’s top scorers from doing damage. Emrie Pedraza ‘28 and Mattison hit triples in crucial points of the game, allowing the Gryphons to ascend even further into the skies. Hudson and Theriault combined for 44 points. Hudson also speaks to the personal triumphs she achieved in the game, “For me, it’s my senior season, so I wasn’t going to let that game slip away. I only had two points at the half, but I trusted my teammates, settled in, and ended up scoring 21 in the second half.”
Post-game, the team flew into the locker room, celebrating raucously. “I don’t even need to look at the stat sheet. We know a lot of people balled out,” says head coach Martin Rather. The new strategy and sheer fervor shown in the second half of the game is the mark of a new dawn for the Gryphons. “We were expected to lose, but we showed a lot of heart and proved what we’re capable of when we lock in,” says Hudson.
This was demonstrated once again on Nov. 25 when the team played a nail-biting game against one of the conference’s biggest powerhouses, Manhattanville University. In previous years, Sarah Lawrence would fall considerably behind when they played the Valiants. In this game, the Gryphons finished just a few points short. They have had multiple games since where they continue their streak of rewriting narratives, and they hope to continue doing so throughout the season.
Post-game celebration. Photo by Irandi Zepeda.
