WILMINGTON — Archmere’s girls basketball team took control in the second quarter, outscoring Medgar Evers College Prep (N.Y.), 15-4, on the way to a 53-39 win at the Viking Invitational on Dec. 28 at the St. E Center. The Auks matched their highest point total of the season in the win.
The visitors took a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter on two free throws from Tikyra Miller, but the Auks regained the advantage for good on a pair of Lucy Oliver free throws. Oliver scored eight of Archmere’s 10 first-quarter points, including four from the charity stripe, as Medgar Evers had trouble stopping her from penetrating and getting shots.
Oliver took a break from scoring in the second, but she had plenty of support as the Auks surged. Bridget Malloy opened with a three, and she kept going. She scored in transition after a steal, hit on a follow shot after and offensive rebound, and showed off her mid-range jumper to put the Auks on top, 21-10.
A significant portion of Archmere’s offense could be attributed to its commanding rebounding advantage. They had multiple opportunities on many possessions while holding the Lady Cougars to one shot most of the time. Ceci Connolly turned one of her 12 rebounds into a layup as the buzzer sounded to extend the lead to 25-11.
Kylee Kluska nailed a three-pointer for the Auks’ first points of the second half, and Archmere threatened to run away with it. An old-fashioned three-point play from Oliver, on a feed from Emily Mayo, extended the advantage to 16, and it would reach 18 several times in the third and fourth quarters before reaching its apex at 19 when Malloy’s field goal midway through the fourth made it 50-31.
Medgar Evers had one last push in them, and an 8-0 run closed the gap to 11. The run included a three-pointer from Aminah McCullen, a conventional three-point play for Miller and a runout layup for Miller. Oliver, however, ended the run and the momentum with what proved to be the game’s final points, a layup and foul shot with 1:13 to go.
Oliver finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Connolly, who was a force inside, had 13 points, and Malloy went for 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Auks (2-4) will visit Newark Charter on Jan. 4 at 3:45 p.m.
For the Lady Cougars, Miller had 19 points, and Mya Aiken added 10.
Photos by Mike Lang.
