JOHNSTOWN – The Lady Raiders built a 13-point halftime lead on Wednesday evening, but the visiting Lady Vikings outscored them 37-22 in the second half and won the game 58-56. The contest was FM's final home game of the season.
FM's Abby Boyer took a pass from Silvia Vasquez Rivera and scored the game's first basket, but Hudson Valley's My'Asia Alston responded with a three-pointer. Vasquez Rivera drained a three for FM, but Alston responded with another trey for Hudson Valley.
Photo: Stephanie Rice sinking FM's first three-pointer of the game
The visitors controlled the early going with solid defensive rebounding, but the Lady Raiders charged back. Jessica Woney has the third-best assists per game total in Region 3. Woney fed Stephanie Rice for the field goal that put FM in front 10-9.
FM built on that lead. Torri Richard stole the ball and sprinted 50' to put FM ahead 31-20. Woney nailed a three in the final minute of the first half, and FM led 34-21 at the break.
Photo: Torri Richard scores on a steal-and-go
The second half was much different from the first. FM maintained their seemingly-safe lead for seven minutes, when Woney's field goal made it 44-34, but then Hudson Valley's offense came to life. Two minutes later, Sierra Sangetti-Daniels sank two from the free throw line, and the score was 44-40.
Freshman Vasquez Rivera sank a long two, and Rice sank a three for a 51-46 lead with just under seven minutes left. Soon, however, Lady Viking Alston nailed a 12-foot jumper, and Hudson Valley had the lead, at 52-51.
The final minutes were hard fought, but the visitors prevailed. Sarah Janson scored three free throws in the final 22 seconds to secure the win. The final score was 58-56.
Photo: Jessica Woney gives FM a 44-34 lead
FM's record is now 16-8 overall and 10-5 in conference play. The Lady Raiders will play their final regular season game Thursday evening at Clinton CC. Then the team will await the announcement of seedings for the Region 3 tournament. FM's first tournament game will likely be on Friday, Feburary 27. The tourney will be played at Onondaga CC.
Sophomores Honored
The Lady Raider sophomores were honored at halftime of the men's game. Their achievements this season included Rice having the second-best rebounds per game average in the region, with 11.2, and Woney earning the region's third-best assists per game mark, 5.2. (See photo at the bottom of this webpage.)
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Scoring:
HVCC: Mitchell 1-0-2, Shudt 0-3-3, Alston 13-4-33, Sangetti-Daniels 5-2-12, Janson 2-4-8; Totals 21-13-58
Three-point goals: 3 (Alston 3)
FMCC: Vasquez Rivera 5-2-15, Pope 1-4-6, Rice 4-1-12, Shepard 1-1-3, Boyer 2-2-6; Totals 18-13-56
Three-point goals: 7 (Vasquez Rivera 3, Woney, Rice 3)
Halftime: 34-21 FMCC
Records: HVCC 17-8 (10-5), FMCC 16-8 (10-5)
Photo: Sophmore honorees and coaches, from left: Coach Clyde Clymer, Angel Gittens, Radasha Pope, Stephanie Rice, Jessica Woney, and Head Coach Kevin Jones
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