MILLTOWN — Hannah Kelley scored 19 points, 13 of those in the second half, as Ursuline pulled away from Saint Mark’s for a 41-19 victory on Jan. 20. It was the Raiders’ first game in 12 days as they improved to 4-0 against in-state competition.
Both offenses got off to a slow start, with Sophia Messick of the Spartans tying the score at 4 on a follow shot five minutes into the first. But Kelley put the Raiders back on top with a short jumper, and Jordan Tate closed out the scoring in the first with a steal and a coast-to-coast drive.
Those were the first four points of what would become a 14-2 stretch for Ursuline. Jazzlyn Wesley came off the bench to provide the first three points of the second, the first two coming on a third-chance lay-in. Kelley scored on a runout, spinning the ball in off the glass from under the net with 6:43 remaining in the half.
Lauren McDonald got Saint Mark’s on the board with a pair of free throws, but the Spartans just could not get their shots to fall. The Raiders used their rebounding advantage and a couple of turnovers to add to their lead, but the half ended with an old-fashioned three-point play from Bella Prado, who scored off a nice assist from McDonald.
Kelley asserted herself in the third. She scored eight of the Raiders’ 12 points, including two on the first possession of the second half, then — after a pair of free throws from Abigail Grillo — stealing the inbounds pass and laying it in.
Kelley was the only player in double figures. The Raiders (6-3) return to the court next Tuessday, when they host St. Georges at 6:45 p.m. as they open a four-game homestand.
Prado led Saint Mark’s with five points. The Spartans (9-3) will host St. Elizabeth next Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
All photos by Jason Winchell.
