Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch led the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team to its first win of the season.
Ava Smith finished with a career-high ten points, including three key free throws in the final minute, as the Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 34-28 at Wildcat Gymnasium on Friday night.
The Red Wolves scored the opening eight points, including two field goals from Hailey McLeod, who also had a career-high with nine points. Cedar Ridge held East Chapel Hill scoreless for the opening 5:50 until Alison Zaranek sank a 3-pointer.
McLeod’s previous career high came in her sophomore season against Person, where she scored eight points on January 26, 2023. The Red Wolves defeated the Rockets 49-33.
Leading 8-5 going into the second quarter, the Red Wolves went on a 7-0 run to take a 15-5 lead. East Chapel Hill went scoreless in the opening 6:11 of the second quarter. Sophomore Elliott Weisenfeld scored on the Red Wolves opening possession of the second quarter off a pass from Smith. Leena Frej added a 3-pointer off a pass from Weisenfeld. Kennedi Fearrington scored off a lay-in courtesy of an assist from Raleigh Taylor. The Wildcats shot 1-of-10 in the second quarter. Evelyn Drecktah scored East’s only field goal off the stanza off a pass from Natasha Berg. Cedar Ridge led 17-9 at the end of the first half.
McLeod banked in a three-pointer to open the second half. After McLeod scored off a lay-in, Smith drained a 3-pointer to put the Red Wolves ahead 25-11. Trailing 29-16 with 3:46 remaining, the Wildcats used full court pressure to force the Red Wolves into three turnovers, all of which led to points. Drecktah stole a pass and laid it in, followed by another steal by Zaranek, who scored to cut the Red Wolf lead to 29-24.
Smith drained two free throws with 1:57 remaining, then added another free throw after the Wildcats failed to score on its next possession.
Cedar Ridge will host East Chapel Hill at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Friday night.
