QUEENSBURY – The much-improved Lady Timberwolves of SUNY Adirondack gave the Lady Raiders a stiff challenge on Saturday afternoon. The game was tied 56-all with 5:15 to play, but FM's end game proved up to the task. The Lady Raiders won 69-63.
The home team scored the first basket and maintained a modest lead for the first 12 minutes of play. Overall, the Lady Raiders were not playing with their usual effectiveness, with one bright exception. Forward Monae Abrams played a very strong inside game throughout the first half.
Photo: Monae Abrams drives for the hoop – other Raiders, from left, are Jessica Woney, Evanda Redwood, and Sherice Gayle
The scrappy Lady T-wolves led 18-9 before the visiting Raiders started closing the gap. Kendra Jordan sank two from the charity stripe. Evanda Redwood scored a long two-pointer. Abrams then scored nine consecutive points for the Blue & White, and the score was knotted at 22-22.
Abrams sank a long two. Redwood made a nice spin move for two in the paint. Moments later she sank both tries of a one-and-one, and FM led 28-25. However, they relinquished that lead in the see-saw game. The 'Wolves left the court leading 36-35 at the break.
Abrams had a marvelous first half, scoring nearly a point per minute. She finished the 20 minutes with 19 points.
The Raiders' offense showed a bit more balance in the second half. Kassandra Flowers, who had missed most of the first half after having been shaken up in a collision, scored 18 points, 15 of which came from behind the arc. Stephanie Rice tallied eight points that included two threes.
Photo: Kassandra Flowers steals the ball while teammate Stephanie Rice reacts
Flowers opened the second stanza with a three-pointer, and FM led 38-36. The Raiders built on that lead and increased it to 54-44, but the T-wolves kept snapping at their heels. An Adirondack three-pointer followed by a three-point play tied the contest at 56-56.
Evanda Redwood sent a sweet breakout pass to Rice, who forwarded it to Flowers for two. Flowers then hit a three from the left side, and FM led by five. Abrams scored a two. Gayle scored a two. Flowers hit another three, and FM had the game in hand. The final score was 69-63.
The team has little time to rest and reflect on the win. They travel to Watertown on Sunday morning to meet the mighty Cannoneers of Jefferson CC at 1:00 p.m. Jefferson has a sterling 6-1 record. Two weeks ago they defeated Adirondack by 16 points at Adirondack.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Scoring:
Fulton-Montgomery: Jordan 2, Flowers 18, Rice 8, Evanda Redwood 8, Woney 2, Abrams 23, Gayle 8; Total 69
SUNY Adriondack: Graham 16, Forcier 14, Moday 2, Warner 5, McLaughlin 14, Jenkins 12; Total 63
Records: FM 4-2, Adirondack 3-4
