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Freshman guard fills in at point and contributes to team win
Facing
a key B-Conference game versus Bryn Mawr, and with sophomore guard Cara
Facchina on the sideline with an ankle injury, Mount de Sales Head Coach Trish
Williams looked down the bench and called on Melissa Singer.
Singer
stepped up and it was sweet music in the air for Williams and team, as the
freshman guard filled in for Facchina and gave the team quality minutes at the
all-important point-guard spot, as the Sailors defeated the Mawrtians, 36-27,
on Wednesday.
With numerous roster changes, the one spot Williams could count on at the
beginning of the season was the point, knowing that with Facchina on the floor,
a young Mount de Sales team had one of the best guards in the league to direct
things.
Williams lost top rebounder Chrissie O’Donnell and top scorer Caitlin
Hoffen to graduation, and then lost several more players, including Emily Reese
to a knee injury.
Faccina was the one given, but other Sailor players have stepped up as
well. Uncertainty at the start of the season has been left behind, as the
Sailors are off to a surprising fast 7-1 start, despite putting basically a
brand new line-up on the floor from last year.
The Sailors (7-1, 2-1) have beaten two A-Conference foes (Roland Park and
St. John’s), one from the C (Garrison Forest), a Baltimore County team (Eastern
Tech) and a Howard team (Hammond).
At 1-1 in the league after a win over Maryvale Prep and a loss to defending
champ Pallotti, Wednesday’s home game versus Bryn Mawr would be a good test.
Chances looked less appealing with Facchina sidelined, but Singer and the rest
of the Sailors made up for her loss.
“I was very pleased with Melissa’s outing,” said Williams. “It wasn’t the
points (Singer scored just two). She played a solid floor game and had I think
three or four assists, and only a few turnovers, impressive because of Bryn
Mawr’s tough defense and also impressive coming from a freshman in only her
sixth game.”
Mount de Sales jumped out quickly, building a 21-10 lead at the half. The
second half was basically even; Bryn Mawr scored two more points, but was
unable to cut into the Sailor lead.
“We were very glad to get the win,” added Williams. “We rotated three girls
down low, and all three contributed. Amy Stryjewski and Hannah Schmidt both had
eight points and eight rebounds, and
Annie Skomba had almost the exact same, getting seven points and eight
rebounds. Sara Bishop also helped with five points and five rebounds.”
With the win, Mount de Sales improved to 2-1 in the league. Bryn Mawr
dropped to 1-3, suffering back-to-back losses including Tuesday’s loss to
Chapelgate Christian. Junior guard Paige Greene led the Mawrtians in scoring
with nine points.
“Bryn Mawr is relentless. Their team is well-coached and their press caused
something like 25 turnovers, and they are tenacious in the half-court,”
Williams said of the opponent.
The Sailors followed up the win over Bryn Mawr with a non-league win over
Hammond yesterday, 50-30. Williams’ young and improving squad will face a stern
test on Saturday when they play host to area rival Seton Keough (No. 2 in the
DigitalSports Top 20 Poll).
It can only help matters to have Facchina on the court, but if she is
unable to go, Singer will be ready to step up and face the music.
Mount de Sales 36, Bryn Mawr 27
BM –
Greene 9, Parente 4, Thomas 4, Peterson 6,
MdS – K.
Stryjewski 2, Skomba 7, Tucker 4, Singer 2, Schmidt 8, Bishop 5, A. Stryjewski
8. Totals 14 7-17 36.
Half: Mds,
21-10.
--Mike Buchanan
