BINGHAMTON – The Lady Raiders outplayed the Lady Hornets of Broome CC on Sunday afternoon. FM won the contest 93-57 and moved to 2-0 in the opening weekend of their 2013-14 season. On Saturday they had defeated the Lady Panthers of TC3 by nearly the same score: 89-58.
Photo: Kassandra Flowers sinks a three early in the game in Broome's Baldwin Gym
The contest in Binghamton saw the Raiders take a quick 6-2 lead, but Broome was a hard-working team that stayed with FM until late in the first half.
Captain Sherice Gayle got things started for the Raiders with a nice field goal from the right side. (See photo below.) Stephanie Rice sank two free throws and Gayle tallied again from the floor. 6-2 FM. Broome closed to 6-5, and then standout Kassandra Flowers hit a three-pointer. It was just the first of her many baskets on the day.
Rice drove for two, Flowers hit another three. FM led 14-10, but could not shake off the swarming Hornets. Jessica Woney scored from just inside the arc, and FM led 21-14, but Broome fought back. Broome was scoring. Gayle sank two more field goals, and Flowers drained another trey, but the game was tied 28-28 with 6:21 remaining in the first half.
Photo: Sherice Gayle scores the first points of the game
Head Coach Kevin Jones' team then began to take over the contest. Rice sank a two from just inside the arc. Veronica Chea sank a three from the middle of the arc. Kendra Jordan put back a rebound for two, and then she drove the lane for two more. Flowers scored by stealing the ball and sprinting 60 feet for the layup. Chea sank another two. Gayle scored off a rebound. FM was in control.
Erica Ward finished the first half with a three-point buzzer beater. FM had outscored Broome 21-5 over the last six-plus minutes and owned a 49-33 halftime lead. Flowers and Gayle were already in double figures, having scored 13 and 10 points respectively, and Rice had tallied nine in the first 20 minutes.
The Lady Raiders kept up that scoring pace in the second half. Gayle continued to score. Flowers hit one three from the left corner and another from farther inbounds. Monae Abrams sank a nice goal from along the baseline. Jordan sank a long jumper after taking a pass from Katrina Garrett. Erica Redwood drained two FTs and sank a three from the right corner. Garrett drove for two, and the score was 81-51.
Photo right: Stephanie Rice drives to the hoop
Jess Woney closed out the scoring. She sank a free throw and then tallied with a spinning reverse layup. The final score was 93-57.
The squad will have a few days to practice for the coming weekend. They will host the Lady Spartans of Cayuga CC at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. That game will be followed by a ceremony honoring veterans and the 3:00 p.m. men's game with Cayuga.
On Sunday the Lady Raiders will host always-tough Onondaga CC. Yesterday Onondaga defeated Hudson Valley 106-56. The Sunday game will tip off at 1:00 p.m.
C.J. Bonny, website wrtier
Click here for video highlights.
Scoring:
FM: Jordan 6, Ward 4, Chea 5, Garrett 7, Flowers 23, Rice 13, Woney 6, Abrams 10, Erica Redwood 4, Gayle 15; Total 93
Broome: Bigart 12, Antwood 11, Conway 28, Blakeman 4, Gaffney 2; Total 57
