Herkimer – Herkimer College’s Khristaijah Jackson opened the scoring in Wednesday’s women’s basketball game with an unstoppable baseline drive for two points. The rest of the first quarter saw Mohawk Valley Community College’s full-court pressure just as unstoppable and the Hawks used it to go on a 25-6 run that set the tone for the rest of the game, which they won 72-46.
MV’s Sashagaye Patterson (10) puts a move on a Herkimer defender on her way to a second quarter deuce. (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Coach Jason Carpenter’s Hawks improved to 19-3 by completing a season’s sweep of the Generals (8-8). Great quickness, ballhandling and shooting enabled the visitors to go on a 12-0 run after Jackson’s opening bucket for HCCC. Cheyenne Clark started the Hawks’ run with two foul shots then a basket inside and Chelsea Gibson capped it with a three. And after Jackson made two foul shots for HCCC, MVCC went on an 8-0 tear, the press keeping the hosts from setting up its half-court offense on most trips down the court. Lillybeth Garcia scored four of MVCC’s points during the stretch that left the visitors ahead 20-4.
“We’re athletic,” said Carpenter of the key to his team’s success.
Hawks guard Kailia Attry (25) lets go of a long three ball. Attry finished with 15 points on the day.(Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
HCCC played much better in the second quarter, with Jackson leading the way inside and Proctor alum Emerald Pett at the foul line with four straight points. Coach P.J. Anadio’s Generals actually had a slight edge in the period in scoring and trailed 38-22 at the half
“Effort-wise I’m happy with our physicality and toughness” Anadio said.
That carried over into the third period as the hosts cut MVCC’s lead down to 13 midway. Diamonique Franklin, Angela Porcelli and Hannah Potter drew fouls and went to the line to shoot a combined 5-for-6. Franklin followed that run with a long jump shot and suddenly it was 48-35.
“We’ve got to get better at both games,” Carpenter said of his team’s occasional inconsistency at time in half-court play.
Garcia assisted on a basket by Linda Galay and Kailia Attry made a three seconds later late in the period to help MVCC stretch the lead to 57-37 and the Hawks cruised from there to victory.
Hawks point guard Linda Galay (1) fires a pass down low during early action. (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Attry had 15 points, Sashagaye Patterson added 11 and Africa Williams and Adrienne Graves had 10 apiece to lead MVCC in scoring. Jackson led HCCC with 13 points and teammates Hardy and Pett added nine apiece and Franklin added eight.
“We’re getting to that part of the schedule where we’re seeing teams a second time and they’re making adjustments,” Carpenter said of why the Generals battled well against his No. 3-ranked team. “Herkimer did a very nice job.”
And the hosts did so to the end, as evidenced by Anadio calling two timesouts in the last minute and Herkimer native Chelsea Jory coming off the bench to block a shot by one of MVCC’s starters.
“It’s the little things,” Anadio said of the key to his program trying to catch up to MVCC someday.
MVCC 25 13 19 15 – 72
HCCC 8 14 16 8 – 46
MVCC (19-2): Linda Galay 2, Laquasia Berry 4, Chelsea Gibson 4, Sashagaye Patterson 11, Africa Williams 10, Lillybeth Garcia 8, Cheyenne Clark 6, Adrienne Graves 10, Kailia Attry 15.
HCCC (8-8): Khristaijah Jackson 13, Diamonique Franklin 8, Emerald Pett 9, Alexandra Hardy 9, Kristy Wallace 1, Angela Porcelli 2, Hannah Potter 4.
