JOHNSTOWN – The Sunday afternoon matchup between the Lady Raiders and Jefferson CC was expected to be a good one, and it was. The Lady Cannoneers had posted a big win over the Lady Royals of Schenectady CCC 78-46 on Saturday. The current weekly Region 3 coaches' poll has FM ranked fourth and Jefferson ranked fifth. FM's record coming into the day was 4-3, and Jefferson's was 5-2. Jefferson had a height advantage. The stage was set for good basketball.
Photo: Co-Captain Jessica Woney makes a tricky pass through three defenders to Angel Gittens, who scored
The visitors scored first, but Co-Captain Stephanie Rice answered from the left side with the first of the four three-pointers she would score in the game. Jessica Woney drove for two and a 9-7 lead. Rice sank another long three. The score was 12-9 FM.
FM was also playing well in the defensive end. Rice, Evanda Redwood, and Abby Boyer were fighting for and winning defensive rebounds. Guards Woney and Silvia Vasquez Rivera were also grabbing rebounds, and they were pushing the play back up court in a hurry.
Vasquez Rivera drove for two. She drove for two more and was fouled. She sank the free throw, and the Lady Raiders led 17-9.
Photos (play proceeds from right to left): Jessica Woney finds Stephanie Rice open – Woney feeds Rice and Rice scores
FM had another big game from freshman Vasquez Rivera, who led the team with 19 points. Sophomore Rice scored 18, Redwood scored 16, and Woney tallied 12. It was another double-double game for Rice, who had 18 rebounds to go with her 18 points.
Photo: Stephanie Rice goes to the hoop for two
The Lady Raiders built a halftime lead of 39-29, but Jefferson was fully capable of closing that gap.
Jefferson enjoyed some hot shooting early in the second half. They closed to 46-40, but the Lady Raiders answered. Vasquez Rivera grabbed the rebound of Boyer's shot and turned it into a three-point play. 49-40. Redwood sank a three from the left corner and then was fouled twice within a minute. She sank three of those four free throws. 55-42.
But the game was far from over. Rice, Vasquez Rivera, and Boyer came up with big defensive rebounds, but Jefferson was outshooting the Raiders. The visitors closed to 55-51. Vasquez Rivera scored from behind the arc, but Jefferson replied with another three-pointer. They finally closed to within one point, at 60-59.
Photo: Silvia Vasquez Rivera scored three three-pointers in the second half
Redwood drained another trey from the left corner. Vasquez Rivera sank two free throws. FM led 65-59 with 1:09 left on the clock. The Lady Raiders managed the final minute well and earned the win at 69-62.
Scoring:
Jefferson: Harrington 1-1-3, McGraw 5-0-15, Garland 1-0-3, Bates 2-2-7, Brierton 4-2-11, Coloney 4-0-8, Crosby 6-3-15; Total 62 Three-point goals: McGraw 5, Garland, Brierton
FMCC: Vasquez Rivera 6-5-19, Woney 4-4-12, Rice 7-0-18, Redwood 3-7-16, Gittens 0-1-1, Boyer 1-0-3; Total 69 Three-point goals: Vasquez Rivera 2, Boyer, Rice 4, Redwood 3
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