Girls’ Basketball

Norwich 61, Whitney Point 40

NORWICH – Japanese exchange student, Kanako Takuume, came off a screen and hit a 15-foot baseline shot with five seconds left in the game to cap Norwich’s strong fourth quarter. The home bench and partisan crowd erupted in approval, and the two points – Takuume’s first this season – highlighted a strong finish to Norwich’s fifth win this season.

“We’ve been a second-half team this year,” said Norwich coach Krista Porter. “We were able to get the ball inside more, and we got decent looks at the basket.”

Leading the winless Golden Eagles by only seven points at halftime, Norwich dominated the second half holding a 35-21 advantage.

Point cut a 40-23 Norwich lead in the third quarter; however, to 42-34 with 5:06 remaining on Alicia Ford’s two free throws.

Tatyana Ithier pulled up to hit a short baseline shot to start a 17-2 run for the host Purple. Elisha Eddy had eight points during the spurt, Michelle Testani scored three, Molly Demellier canned a three from the top of the key, and Adrienne Sharpe added a free throw.

Eddy led with 18 points and 15 rebounds, Hannah Runyon scored 13 points, and Ithier dished out a team-high six assists.

WPt: E. Theleman, 0; Makay Ross, 2 0-6-6; Chevee Hodges, 0 1-2-1; Sheena Driscoll, 1 4-6-6; Alicia Ford, 2 4-5-8; Bethany Atwood, 1 0-1-2; Ashley Keep, 3 0-0-6; Kelsey Ticknor, 4 3-4-11. Totals: 13 12-24-40