Fallsnewspress.com - Walsh girls gets balanced scoring in rout of Ursuline

by Dean Raymond

Correspondent

Eleven different players scored for host Walsh Jesuit as they defeated Youngstown Ursuline 66-45 Jan. 30.

The Lady Irish (7-8) led only twice in the game at 2-1 and 10-9 before a 15-foot jumper by senior guard Cheryl Yu gave the Lady Warriors (15-1) the lead for good at 11-10 with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter.

Walsh Jesuit would take a 17-12 advantage after one quarter as sophomore forward/center Liz Reeves connected on a 10-foot jumper with a pretty assist to Cheryl Yu just before the first period buzzer.

A free throw from senior forward Chase Connors pulled Ursuline within four at 17-13 with 7:47 to go in the second quarter before Lady Warrior sophomore guard Rachel Theriot scored inside after a rebound with 6:03 left in the second period to cap a 6-0 run by WJ as the Maroon and Gold led 23-13.

The closest the Lady Irish got the rest of the way was at 23-17 as sophomore guard Aurielle Irizarry laid the ball in with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Freshman guard Sandra Yu also converted a layup for the Lady Warriors with 1:41 to go in the second period to cap a 5-0 run as Walsh Jesuit led 28-17.

Leading 32-21 at the half thanks to a triple from senior guard Ariel McNair, the Lady Warriors added to their 4-0 run at the end of the third quarter with a 4-0 run to start the third period (an 8-0 run overall) and led 36-21 as senior center Nneka Offodile scored off a rebound with 7:21 left in the third period.

Ursuline crept within 12 points at 39-27 and 44-32 before Walsh Jesuit went on a 9-1 run to end the third quarter, including a five-foot jumper by junior forward Jackie McCarty that gave the Lady Warriors a 51-33 lead with 0:17 remaining in the third period.

After a nifty assist to McCarty, Theriot scored on a layup just 10 seconds later (a nice assist to Sandra Yu) as Walsh Jesuit led 53-33 after three quarters of play.

The Lady Warriors then played most of their reserve players the rest of the way.

"We need to keep working hard in practice and take one game at a time," McCarty said. "All that matters is winning in the tournament. That's what we've worked for all season long."

A three-point goal from Irizarry with 5:11 to go in the fourth period pulled the Lady Irish within 12 again at 55-43 before a 9-0 run by Walsh gave the Maroon and Gold a 64-43 advantage with 2:09 left as sophomore guard Courtney Iacobacci laid the ball in after a steal.

"Ursuline is a very aggressive team," Lady Warrior head coach Pete Zaccari said. "We did a much better job in the second half of getting some open looks on offense. We're working hard in practice and the ultimate goal is to win the state championship."

The Lady Irish ended up 17-of-37 from the floor for 46 percent and 10-of-25 at the line for 40 percent.

Walsh Jesuit was 29-of-77 from the field for 38 percent and 5-of-11 at the charity stripe for 45 percent.

The Lady Warriors led in three-point goals, 3-1 (McNair, Cheryl Yu and junior guard Kaela Segerson).

Irizarry scored a game-high 18 points for Ursuline while sophomore forward Courtney Powell added 10 points.

Theriot paced Walsh with 17 points and Cheryl Yu tossed in 12 points for the Lady Warriors.

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