PIKE CREEK – Padua had five players score at least eight points as they defeated St. Mark’s, 57-36, on Feb. 7 in Catholic Conference girls basketball.
The Pandas started hot as Brooke Emmi hit a three-pointer, followed by a deep three from Haley Scott. The Spartans clawed back to cut it to 10-7 after a three-pointer by Delaney Carey. The Pandas ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run that included a pair of fast-break layups by Paige Kenton and a Scott jumper.
The Pandas’ offense went cold for most of the second quarter, but their defense was stout, and again they finished the quarter strong. Scott hit another triple, and Emmi added two field goals and the Pandas led, 27-15.
Then the Pandas’ bigs took over. Michelle Kozicki and Kenton combined for all of the team’s 15 third-quarter points. Kozicki hit two free throws, followed by a 15-foot jumper. Kenton followed with an old-fashioned three-point play and a 10-foot jumper. The Spartans’ offense struggled as they were held to three field goals in the third. Padua’a lead was 42-24 heading into the final stanza.
The Pandas added to the lead as Kozicki added a three-point play, and Lauren Kim added three straight buckets. The Spartans did get five points in the final quarter from Kayla Wolff.
The Pandas had three players in double figures: Kozicki (15), Kenton (13) and Emmi (12). Scott and Kim added eight points apiece for the 9-7 Pandas. They travel to Concord on Monday for a 3:30 p.m. tip.
Wolff had nine points to lead the Spartans, while Delaney added eight. The Spartans (6-9) look to end a seven-game losing streak when they face Ursuline on Friday night at 6 at the 76ers Fieldhouse as part of the SL24 Memorial Classic. The Spartans’ boys team will play Salesianum after the girls’ game.
