SCHENECTADY – The Lady Raiders emerged victorious from the confines of the Schenectady CCC court on Tuesday evening. Scrappy Schenectady made a good effort, but FM's tenacious defense and counterattacking effort earned a 60-52 victory.
The FM squad had been averaging 73.4 points per game going into the Tuesday tilt, but as the game got under way it appeared that the Lady Raiders' offensive output would be well below their average. That proved to be the case. The team used good offensive tactics, but they had unusual difficulty scoring.
Photo: Silvia Vasquez Rivera scores, tying the game at 31-31
Schenectady's Lady Royals came to play. SCCC jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but tallies by Jessica Woney, Evanda Redwood, Radasha Pope, and Abby Boyer put FM in front 9-6. FM was rebounding well and managed to build a lead.
A Stephanie Rice free throw put the visitors ahead 19-10, but the home side came back with nine unanswered points to tie the game 19-19. FM's offense never got up to its usual level in the first half. The score was 24-23 FM at halftime.
Schenectady took the lead when play resumed. Four minutes into the half the score was 29-24 with the home team on top, but then the Female Raider of the Month for November, Silvia Vasquez Rivera, sparked the FM offense with a three-pointer from the left side. Woney scored with a jumper, and Vasquez Rivera added another field goal. 31-31.
The Lady Royals were not done. They took the lead again at 36-33.
FM's Rice took a pass from Tori Richard and scored. Boyer sank two FTs and, a minute later, added two more. Co-Captain Woney had a very strong second half, putting 13 points on the board in those final 20 minutes. Her free throw put FM ahead 40-39, and the Lady Raiders never trailed again.
Photo: Abby Boyer takes Silvia Vasquez Rivera's feed and scores, putting FM up 54-46
SCCC kept working hard and tied the contest at 46-all with less than five minutes to play, but a pair of Woney free throws regained the lead. The end game was tense, but two long twos by Vasquez Rivera – first from the left side and then from the right – helped the FM cause. The win was sealed when Redwood took Vasquez Rivera's pass and scored. FM won the game 60-52.
The Lady Raiders' next game will be at home in the Raiders Den this Saturday, December 6, when they will host the Lady Broncos of SUNY Delhi. Tip time is 1:00 p.m.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Scoring:
FMCC: Vasquez Rivera 4-1-10, Pope 2-2-7, Woney 4-9-18, Rice 2-1-5, Redwood 5-0-11, Boyer 2-5-9; Total 60 -- Three-point goals: Vasquez Rivera, Pope, Woney, Redwood
SCCC: Sullivan 4-3-12, Piscitella 1-0-2, Robinson 4-1-9, Boyles 0-2-2, Huba 4-0-8, Archie 4-1-9, Cater 3-3-10; Total 52 -- Three-point goals: Sullivan, Cater
Photo: Torri Richard shoots and Abby Boyer gets in position for a rebound
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