By Andy States
astates@digitalsports.com

Contrary to public opinion, or at least what they perceive to be public opinion, the Saint Mary's Ryken Knights think they can be a pretty tough team to play this year.
 
Ryken graduated Laura Broomfield, now a freshman playing at the University of North Carolina, and lost four games in an arduous seven-game stretch over nine days to open this campaign. But even without the star player and a few early-season losses, the Knights are building into a cohesive unit that hopes to continue to progress as the season rolls on.

"I think we're definitely going to change people's minds when they see us," Ryken's Erin Leddy said. "Everyone thinks Ryken's not the team to beat, especially after we lost Laura, but I think this year we're playing together as a team very well and we're going to surprise a lot of people."

On Friday night Ryken welcomed Archbishop Carroll to its gym and, after swapping the lead back-and-forth in the four quarter, Molly Grund's jumper with 1 minute 24 seconds remaining put the Knights up to stay in a 45-44 win over the Lions.

"We made some mental errors right near the end," Ryken coach Tara Everly said, "so it was just nice to have a chance to recover and get the 'W.'"

Ryken (4-4, 1-2) appeared poised to run away with the game on several occasions in the first half. The Knights defense swarmed and created turnovers in spurts, leading to some quick transition buckets. Ryken's lead, after an 11-0 run, swelled to 22-13 after Grund's three-pointer early in the second period.  But the Lions responded by scoring 15 of the quarter's final 21 points to knot the game by the half. Carroll finished the half by scoring the final eight points, six of which came from Nequoiah Anderson, who tallied 13 first-half points.

Carroll (1-5, 0-3) took its first lead since the game's early-going on Brittany Sampson's field goal near the midpoint of the third quarter, which put the Lions in front 32-30. Leeandrea Walker followed with a three-pointer to increase the edge to 35-30, Carroll's largest lead of the game.

Zakiya Chambers-Hunter and Grund followed with the game's next four points, to slash the deficit to just one at the end of the quarter and ensure that the outcome would likely come down to the final minutes. And, even in the young season, Ryken is already experienced in dramatic finishes, including an overtime win over Montrose Christian in its previous game.

"It's good in a way," Everly said. "I think it builds opportunities to see what you've got and be able to react and learn how to deal with those types of situations."

Carroll led 43-39 after back-to-back three-pointers by Walker, but Chambers-Hunter and Grund combined to score the next six points to put Ryken back in front to stay. It was the third consecutive win for the Knights, who are now off from game action until Jan. 3. Leddy led the effort with 13 points, while Chambers-Hunter scored 10.

"It's good going into break with a win," Leddy said. "It definitely boosts our confidence."

Chambers-Hunter added: "We definitely started at the bottom, but we're working our way up."

Carroll was led by a 13-point effort from Anderson, all of which came in the first half. Sampson added 11 points to the cause. The Lions' next scheduled action comes Sunday against Paul VI.

St. Mary's Ryken 45, Archbishop Carroll 44
C    13    15    7    9
R    17    11    6    11
Carroll: Anderson 13, Sampson 11, Walker 9, Powell 6, Berger 5
Ryken: Leddy 13, Chambers-Hunter 10, Grund 9, McCormick 8, Manigault 5