SCRANTON- While Scranton’s offense continues to frustrate coach Mike
Strong, the Lady Royals’ defense is getting rave reviews.
Scranton put the clamps on Allentown’s leading scorer Wednesday, leaving
the defending Middle Atlantic Conference women’s basketball champions
punchless. The Lady Royals won their 10th straight game 59-48 at Scranton’s
John Long Center.
Scranton (13-1 overall, 5-1 MAC Freedom League) took control with a 12-0
run at the end of the first half and led by as many as 22 late in the game.
The Centaurs (7-8, 3-3) chipped away at the deficit, but never really
challenged.
It was only the second time this season that the Lady Royals scored less
than 69 points, but Strong found little consolation in that.
“I was very pleased with our defensive effort,” he said. “There are still a
number of things offensively we need to work on.
“We need a killer instinct. We need some cockiness. We don’t have a lot of
confidence for a team being 13-1. I don’t like how this team starts games.”
To Strong’s displeasure, Scranton struggled in the early going. Kate
Corcoran scored 15 of the Centaurs’ first 24 points, including a trey 5:54
before halftime that gave Allentown a 24-22 lead.
That’s when Scranton’s defense took over. The Lady Royals held Allentown
scoreless until the first minute of the second half and didn’t allow another
field goal until 11:30 remained in the game.
The defensive standout was Kelly Halpin, who began covering Corcoran and
limited Allentown’s junior to just three more points.
Halpin also led the Lady Royals with 14 points. Kate Dougherty added 11,
but neither total was enough to ease Strong’s concerns about the offense.
“We don’t attack the basket,” Strong said. “We have players who would
rather pass the ball. Lisa (Harris) and Kelly need to be more selfish. I
thought we could have scored in the paint more.”
After Corcoran’s free throw 52 seconds into the second half cut Scranton’s
lead to nine, the Lady Royals scored mostly from the outside during an 11-0
run that knocked Allentown out for good.
Halpin scored four points and Erin Hurleman added a three and two free
throws during the streak.
Dougherty’s 3-pointer with 6:15 left gave the Lady Royals their largest
lead at 55-33. The Centaurs then finished the game scoring 15 of the final 19
points.
“I’m pleased with the win. This has been a tough run for us with Lycoming,
King’s and Allentown in a row,” Strong said. “That’s tough to do.”
ALLENTOWN (48)
Ganci 0 0-0 0, Guman 0 0-0 0, Cleighton 2 1-6 5, Samoylo 0 0-0 0, Mancuso 3
2-4 9, Flory 1 2-4 5, Kaucher 0 0-0 0, Corcoran 7 1-3 18, Reviello 2 2-5 6,
McCarthy 0 0-0 0, Anders 1 0-0 2, Hartung 1 1-3 3. Totals 17 9-25 48.
SCRANTON (59)
Kuntz 0 0-0 0, Hurleman 1 2-2 5, McGovern 1 1-2 3, Halpin 7 0-0 14, Mohrman
3 1-2 8, Harris 2 0-0 4, Milder 1 1-2 3, Eilbacher 2 0-0 4, Tracy 1 0-0 2,
Dougherty 5 0-2 11, Walsh 1 1-2 3, Crotty 1 0-2 2. Totals 25 6-14 59.
Halftime score: Scranton, 34-24.
3-pt FGs: Corcoran 3, Mancuso, Flory, Hurleman, Mohrman, Dougherty.
