The Harrison girls’ basketball team ventured to Rye for a dinnertime contest January 6, and were quickly turned into the main course by the Lady Garnets. Rye dominated their rivals 53-25, and improved to 3-4.

 

By Melanie Cane

The Harrison girls’ basketball team ventured to Rye for a dinnertime contest January 6, and were quickly turned into the main course by the Lady Garnets. Rye dominated their rivals 53-25, and improved to 3-4.

 

Led by its starting five of  Victoria Pacos, Katie Killip, Grace Leishman, Rachel Egan, and Hannah Billingsley, the Garnets quickly jumped out to a 10-3 lead. But the first quarter proved to be just an appetizer, as Rye outscored Harrison 17-4 in the second with contributions from Leishman, Egan, Pacos, and Brigid Lonergan.

 

Heading into the second half up 27-7, head coach Mary Henwood rotated much of her roster into the lineup, with Alanna Morque, Meghan Gormley, Holly Tyce, Shennai Saunders, and Brittany Maier all seeing action. Killip, however, was a force for the Garnets, scoring ten of Rye’s 19 points in the quarter.

 

Rye’s bench players took over the fourth quarter, as the team cruised to victory. Henwood was pleased to see her role players step up and contribute.

 

Overall, the Garnets recorded 12 assists, with just 11 turnovers, and shot a season-best 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. They played successful team defense with an aggressive press. Leishman led in scoring with 16, while Egan chipped in 14, and Killip 12.

 

Although Rye is one game under .500, their four losses have come to AA schools White Plains (twice), New Rochelle, and Hamilton.

 

“Playing the AA teams was a great experience and made us challenge ourselves,” said Pacos. “We are playing really well as a team and have come to know and trust one another much more. We are looking forward to continued success.”

Rye’s next game is January 15 at Kennedy.