For the second time in two Central Conference games, the Orange women’s basketball team had a game that wasn’t decided until the final minute.
Once again, Evelyn George had the answers for an Orange victory.
George scored a career-high 31 points in Orange’s 45-42 victory over Western Alamance on Wednesday night. Orange improved to 2-0 in the Central Conference in beating the Warriors for the second straight time.
Western Alamance (5-6, 1-1 in the Central Conference) played most of the game without long-range threat Allie Sykes, who averages 15 points per game. Sykes, who averages 26.5 minutes per game, was limited to five minutes.
That didn’t stop the Warriors from reeling off eleven straight points to take a 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Guards Emma Johnson and Bri Pullium each drained 3-pointers while reserve Kayra Benitez Dorantes knocked down another shot from downtown to end the first quarter.
The Panthers used a 2-3 zone to shutout the Warriors in the second quarter, but Orange could only muster eight points and trailed 17-14 at halftime.
George had a personal 12-0 run in the third quarter to put the Lady Panthers ahead for the first time. After scoring on a baseline drive to put in a five-footer, George put Orange ahead with a straightaway 3-pointer off a feed from Alexis Stephens. Then George drained another 3-pointer on Orange’s next possession.
The Warriors scored seven straight to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Xiomara Moser, who led the Warriors with 12 points, scored on a breakaway lay-in from Kiva Shavers. George scored Orange’s next three field goals to put Orange ahead 38-35. After Western’s Tina Bowers drained a running one-hander to cut the Panthers lead to 38-37, Panther guard Shannon Murphy does for a loose ball and threw a pass while laying on the floor to Marshea Byrd, who scored from point-blank range.
Byrd added another field goal following a steal by George with 2:09 remaining to increase Orange’s lead to 42-37. Sykes reported late into the game to insert some drama, hitting a 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining. The Warriors had a chance to tie on its final possession, but a 3-pointer by Sykes rimmed out.
Orange will host Walter Williams in a battle for first place on Friday night at 6PM in Hillsborough.
Cedar Ridge 46, Person 43: Without Amiyah Ware in the lineup, the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team got a huge game from freshman for its first conference win of the season.
Finnegan, in just her third varsity game, scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a grinding win over the Rockets where the two teams combined for 45 fouls and 54 free throws.
Person jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Red Wolves responded with a 9-2 run to finish the quarter. Finnegan capped the frame with a 3-pointer to put the Red Wolves ahead 9-7.
Cedar Ridge stretched its advantage to 18-9 at halftime following a jumper by Cameron Copeland off a feed from Finnegan. The Red Wolves defense held the Rockets to one field goal in the second quarter and forced 12 turnovers.
Cedar Ridge freshman Sarah Ultey, who finished with ten points, eight assists and five steals, knocked down two free throws to increase the Red Wolves lead to 20-9 with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter. The Rockets chipped away at the advantage behind four straight points from forward Cassie Jay and a lay-in by Nayahana Marner, who scored in transition to cut the Red Wolf lead to 26-22. Cedar Ridge’s Jamee Watson ended the third quarter with a three-pointer to put the Red Wolves cushion at 36-26.
Marner hit two field goals to open the fourth quarter, followed by a jumper from Paige Jay to cut Person’s deficit to 36-32.
Late in the game, Person had two chances to tie the game, but Finnegan came up with a huge steal off a pass, which led to a free throw from Addie Reid with 55 seconds remaining to put the Red Wolves ahead 43-40.
Cedar Ridge will host Southern Alamance at Red Wolves Gymnasium at 7PM on Friday night.