Despite mounting a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback that erased an 11-point halftime deficit, Meiji ultimately dropped a physical, fast-paced contest decided in the closing moments.
Meiji deployed a starting lineup featuring freshman forward Anna Nakari (Tokyo Seitoku Univ.), sophomore guard Hana Fujii (Nihon Aviation HS), sophomore center Jiko Sugiyama (Hamamatsu Kaiseikan HS), freshman forward Momoka Ohno (Shohei HS), and junior forward Non Chuue (Kugenum HS). Edogawa used its interior height advantage to dictate terms early. Sugiyama and Nakari tried to counter with disciplined inside scoring, while sophomore guard Asuka Obata hit a clutch three-pointer near the end of the first quarter to pull Meiji within 20-14.
Meiji’s defense locked in briefly to open the second quarter, shutting out Edogawa for an extended stretch. However, Edogawa adjusted by hammering away with effective post play as the period wore on. Fujii carried the offensive load for Meiji with relentless scoring drives, but the maroon-and-white squad still faced a 40-29 hole heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Fourth-Quarter Comeback and Final-Minute Deficit
Meiji turned the tide immediately after the break. Nakari opened the third quarter with a mid-range jumper, quickly followed by a three-pointer from Fujii that ignited the bench. Obata began stretching the floor from the perimeter, feeding Fujii for reliable finishes as Meiji chipped away at the deficit, keeping it at 10 points heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter showcased Meiji’s highest intensity of the afternoon. Head coach and rotational adjustments paid off immediately when Chuue entered the game as a spark plug, scoring in bunches to narrow the gap to just two points. With six minutes remaining on the clock, Fujii drove hard to the basket for a score, and teammate Yumi Obana followed with a bucket that gave Meiji its first lead of the game. The two teams traded blows in a breathless, back-and-forth battle down the stretch. Edogawa managed to punch back in the game’s decisive sequence, claiming a three-point edge with 90 seconds left. Meiji fired away desperately at the rim in the final moments but ran out of time, falling 80-76.
Player Reactions and Reflections on the Match
Senior forward Risa Ozaki (Tokyo Seitoku Univ.) addressed the team’s youth after the final buzzer, pointing out the positive trajectory of the roster despite the loss. “The individual quality is quite high,” Ozaki said, noting that team cohesion continues to improve steadily across the board. Looking ahead to the final stretch of the autumn schedule, Ozaki emphasized that the squad intends to fight for every remaining victory.
Nakari analyzed the tactical shift that allowed Meiji to climb back into contention after trailing by double digits. “If the ball gets into the hands of the international student player, there are parts of it you just cannot stop,” Nakari explained, crediting her teammates for verbal communication and collaborative five-player defense in the paint. Addressing her sharp shooting touch, Nakari noted that she focused strictly on taking shots within her own rhythm while cutting down on forced attempts generated by the Edogawa defense.
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