CANANDAIGUA – FM's Lady Raiders traveled to Canandaigua to take on the Lady Lakers on Saturday. They stepped off the bus after the long ride in the snow and quickly showed why they are ranked third among the 15 teams in Region 3. The FM squad ended the semester with an impressive 85-63 win over Finger Lakes.
Photo: Kendra Jordan puts pressure on FLCC's Alexis Maiorano – other Raiders, from left, are Sherice Gayle, Stephanie Rice, and Kassandra Flowers
The teams went onto the floor of the Putt Moore Court, and FM sprinted into the lead. Kassandra Flowers drove the baseline for two points. Stephanie Rice ran a long way for a layup. Sherice Gayle sank a 10' jumper. Monae Abrams sank a free throw, and FM led 7-2.
The Lady Lakers, however, showed plenty of spirit and came back to knot the score at 10-10. Gayle made a nice spin move and got the visitors in front 12-10. Gayle's move may have sparked the Raider offense.
Abrams took a pass from Rice and scored. Abrams drove for two more. Rice stole the ball and sprinted in to tally. 18-12 FM.
Erica Redwood was fouled while scoring and sank the free throw. Redwood then hit a jumper, and FM's lead was 23-12.
Photo: Jessica Woney puts up a shot – Erica Redwood, left, and Veronica Chea react
Evanda Redwood sank a long two, and Flowers scored from beyond the arc for a 28-15 lead, but then the Raiders' offense let down a bit. The Lakers closed to 28-19. Head Coach Kevin Jones sent fresh players back into the game.
Veronica Chea sank a lovely three-pointer from the left side. Gayle scored from the charity stripe. Abrams is usually a force near the basket, but she moved out beyond the arc and drained a trey. Jordan added a three from the right side. Abrams sank two free throws. The teams went into the break with FM in front 40-28.
FM had played a solid first half. Gayle had scored nine points and Abrams had scored eight. Eight different Raiders had put points on the board.
Flowers tallied FM's first points of the second half, scoring a three and giving FM a 13-point lead. However, a bothersome knee forced her to leave the game for a while.
Gayle scored on another of her smooth spin moves and kept FM's lead at 13 points.
Photo: Sherice Gayle spins in the lane and makes the score 45-32
Jordan made another fine left-handed shot from three-point range. Erica Redwood scored. But the Lakers started closing the gap while both Flowers and Abrams were on the bench.
Finger Lakes closed to within eight. FM's freshman Rice took a feed from Gayle, scored while being fouled, and sank the free throw. 53-42 FM.
Midway through the half, Jordan hit a long two, Erica Redwood stole the ball and scored. The Lady Raiders had the game firmly in their control.
The final score was 85-63. FM is now 8-2 on the season, 8-1 in Division III play, and 3-0 in conference play. The team now begins their holiday break and will resume play on January 9 when they will host Herkimer CCC in a 5:00 p.m. contest.
Photo below: Stephanie Rice scores – also pictured are Erica Redwood at left and Taylor Wetsky
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Scoring:
FM Jordan 8, Flowers 11, Rice 12, Evanda Redwood 6, Woods 2, Woney 8, Abrams 9, Erica Redwood 9, Gayle 11, Chea 9; Total 85
FLCC: Maiorano 2, Broderick 9, Shepard 14, Dean 10, Smith 9, Ogrowdowski 7, Guerin 5, Graves 1, Matthews 2, Harris 2, Guerrier 2; Total 63
Records: FM 8-2, FLCC 3-6
