Pregame interview with Hannah Jorich and Rachel Moyer
Lancaster, Pa – The Lions were coming off their biggest win of the season taking down Frostburg St. scoring a season high 90 points for their first conference win of the year Wednesday December 11th at the Capital Union Building. After the big win, Harrisburg was looking forward to their match up against former NEAC Foe Lancaster Bible. Unfortunately the Charger's Katy Stover had a career night scoring 32 points while the team used an early 20-5 run to help them secure their fifth win of the season 80 - 65.
After going down fifteen in the first ten minutes of the game, the Lions did what they could to counter back, but were unable to make much headway. Kaitlyn Carmo (Palmyra, Pa / Palmyra) scored ten of the team's 24 points in what finished up being a disappointing first half. The visiting Blue and White went into halftime needing to devise a plan to come out much different than how they started the game.
Coach Patrick appeared to have hit the nail on the head with his halftime adjustments. Jasmine Yanick (Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna) used an old fashioned three point play to start the second half, Kiara Carter (Bronx, N.Y. / Milton Hershey) started to work the inside paint, and Carmo continued to score and rebound. These three helped Harrisburg use the first five minutes of second half action to go on a 15-9 run and bring the game back within reach down only six. Unfortunately the visitors pushed right back by scoring the next four points to bring the game to 49-39 with 12:04 to play.
That was more than enough time for this young squad to increase the defensive pressure and cut the deficit. But, It felt like every time they came within reach, Lancaster Bible would hit a three pointer or make the well-timed stop to keep an 8-10 point lead for most of the final 15 minutes. Harrisburg also had to deal with Stover's career high 32 points, which puts her seventh on the Charger's list for highest points in a single game.
Carmo also had an impressive game as she continues to put up good numbers. The local freshman led the team with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Carter also had 8 rebounds and 9 points. Ana Edmonson continued to be a threat off the bench (Lancaster, Pa. / J.P. McCaskey) scoring 15 points shooting well from behind the arc. Hannah Jorich (Middletown, Pa. / Middletown) was tonight's assist leader with two.
Harrisburg out rebounded the Chargers 41-38, had fewer turnovers, and won the battle of the bench scoring 19 points compared to Bible's 2. Unfortunately, besides the score, the stat that seemed to sum up the game best was Lancaster dominating the assist column with 21 compared to the Lions 7.
Harrisburg fought hard to the end, but was unable to make the run they needed as time started to wind down. The Charger's cruised in the final five minutes for an 80-65 victory.
The Blue and White will have plenty of time to think about what they can improve on. The team has over three weeks break before getting back on the court January 4th at home when they get back to CAC action against Salisbury University.