Essex, MD – The Lady Lakers continue to provide women's basketball powerhouse CCBC-Essex with some of its most competitive conference games.
CCBC-Essex, ranked second in the nation among NJCAA Division II teams, clinched another Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference title on Saturday with a win over visiting Garrett College. The Lady Lakers, however, were within two points midway through the third quarter before Essex pulled away to notch a 78-55 victory.
"I thought we played hard and with a lot of heart," said GC head coach JT Lewis. "They're [Essex] a strong and athletic team that's hard to keep off the offensive boards. Hopefully this opens our eyes a little on what we need to work on as we prepare for regionals.
"It was fun to be part of a game like this one," added Lewis.
GC has a history of playing the Knights tough, including providing Essex its closest conference game of the 2021-22 season. The Lady Lakers were at it again Saturday, holding Essex to its second-smallest margin of victory in conference games this year.
Anasia Staton scored a game-high 20 points and Cassandra Hawthorne added 14 off the bench for the Knights, who had a 48-46 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Essex reeled off the last 12 points of the quarter as Ashley Dickey turned a pair of steals into layups and Staton drained a trio of free throws.
Essex (27-1) improved to 10-0 in the league while GC (19-3) finished 9-2 in conference play.
Dickey (10 points) and Tyler Gray (eight points) each had five steals as Essex forced 20 Garrett turnovers.
Josias Mickens (13 rebounds, five assists, three steals) led GC with 12 points while Gabriella Valentinetti added 11, including 3-for-3 from the 3-point line in the first half to help the Lakers stay within 39-32 at the break.
"Gabby helped keep us in the game in the first half," said Lewis.
Josie Canales, Harmoni Swain, and Aleeya Silver added eight points each.
Essex opened the second half with a 9-3 run, capped by a Staton 3-pointer that made it 48-35. The Lady Lakers answered with an 11-0 spurt that included three Swain jumpers and was capped by Mickens' three-point play that pulled GC within 48-46.
GC 66, CCBC-Catonsville 53
McHenry, MD – GC made 26-of-32 free throws Wednesday night as the Lady Lakers improved to 19-2.
"We've made an emphasis on trying to get to the line a little bit more," said GC head coach JT Lewis, whose team went 10-of-14 from the line in the first quarter while building a 19-8 advantage.
Catonsville, however, was able to stay in the game with tough defense out of a 2-3 zone that gave GC some issues.
"Our problem is we don't attack it aggressively enough," said Lewis. "We get stagnant and kind of stand around. We settle for outside shots against the 2-3."
The pesky Cardinals pulled within 48-42 with 7:34 remaining on consecutive jumpers by Destiny Perry (game-high 24 points) and Kayla Cabbagestalk (10 points). GC, however, regained control at the foul line as Canales sandwiched four made free throws around two by Aliyah Tucker (12 points, 12 rebounds).
Vanessa Cooper (six points) then buried her second 3-pointer of the game to stretch GC's lead to 57-42.
Josias Mickens led GC with team highs in points (14), assists (five), and steals (three). Josie Canales scored 12 points, including 6-for-6 from the line.
Gabriella Valentinetti added seven points for the Lakers, and teammate Aleeya Silver contributed six points.
Amaree McKnight was the third Cardinal in double figures with 12 points.
GC finished its regular season home schedule with a 9-1 record, the only loss coming in overtime to Potomac State.
