Women’s Basketball – Lady Lakers Drop Season Opener to Herkimer, 53-50
HERKIMER, NY. – The Lady Lakers, in their opening contest of the 2012-13 region III women's basketball season, took on a quality opponent right out of the gates in the Herkimer County CC Lady Generals – last Thursday (11/1).
The two teams, both of who entered the meeting with talented rosters, gave the people in attendance a thriller of a game. Finger Lakes and Herkimer couldn't decide a winner until the final moments of the second half.
Tied at 50 with less than two minutes to go in the game, the Lady Generals, who were also playing in their first game of the season, went ahead 53-50 – thanks to both (on separate occasions) a made field goal and free throw.
Hitting a two-point field goal to put Herkimer ahead 52-50 late in the pairing was forward Whitney Brown. Freshman Shileeka Williams then provided the games' final point with her made free throw. Williams point from the charity stripe capped off a 53-50 victory for the Lady Generals.
The Lady Lakers controlled the games' tempo in the first half – but it would be Herkimer who would prevail upon the conclusion of the games' final half. FLCC built a 30-24 halftime lead behind a balanced attack out of its offense and defense.
The tone of the game would change in the second half. That is when the Lady Generals – prior to claiming a 53-50 win – would outscore the Lady Lakers – 29-20.
The Lady Lakers – despite falling – took quite a few positive away from the opener. The solid offensive tandem of a year ago in Casi Strait and Kelli McCauley (both guards) – led the top of the scoring column in the evening matchup for FLCC. Strait poured in a team-high 16 points while McCauley contributed 15 of her own in the losing effort.
Of McCauley's 15 points – 9 of them came via the three-pointer. The sophomore put forth a 3-6 showing from beyond the ark.
Another key returnee from the 2011-12 Lady Lakers squad – forward Britany Monpere – also pitched in with a solid first game of her sophomore season by delivering a 9-point, 8-rebound evening.
Freshman guard Julia Pagano controlled the glass for FLCC with her 10 rebounds. In addition to her solid night in the boards' column – she also doled out a team-high 5 assists.
On the winning end for Herkimer – Brown led the hosts with her game-high 26 points. Victoria Seabrooks (game-high 15 rebounds) and Allie Webb (game-high 8 assists) both added valuable performances in the contest.
Overall, Herkimer outshot the Lady Lakers in terms of shooting percentages – 38% to 31%. The Lady Generals bench slightly outscored FLCC's – 12-6. In terms of rebounding, Herkimer took the upper hand as they grabbed 41 boards as opposed to the Lady Lakers 33.