Slow Start Hurts Lady Commodores Against Westmoreland

November 22, 2016 - In a tough battle at home on Tuesday night, the Lady Commodores loss to Westmoreland CCC by a final score of 59-50. Down two players due to injuries and classes, things didn't start well for LCCC but they were able to close the gap midway through the 1st half. "We came out very slow and sluggish. We lacked intensity and aggressiveness. Once we settled down we played well, it was just the late start that doomed us" said Coach Granito.

To start the game, LCCC went scoreless much of the 1st quarter but it was Heather Smyth who ended the drought scoring the team's first 4 points and 4 of her 9 total points in the 1st half. LCCC would trail 12-4 at the end of 1 quarter, but adjustments made by Coach Granito seemed to work as the Lady Commodores outscored Westmoreland 14-13 in the 2nd quarter. Contributing to this was the fact that LCCC would get 10 free throw attempts compared to the Wolfpacks two. Along with leading all scorers at the half, Smyth led all rebounders with 8 which helped LCCC tie Westmoreland in the rebounding category at 19 each. At the half, the Lady Commodores would only trail 7 points.

In the 3rd the production of LCCC's season leading scorer, Madi Bonner, picked up as she started to hit her usual shots. Bonner who finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, helped her team stay close and pull within 6 late in the 3rd.
Along with scoring better, the Lady Commodores continued to clean the glass as Smyth finished with 12 rebounds, Bonner 10, White 8 and the team combining for 38. This would be crucial for LCCC late in the game as this allowed them to stay within reach.

Unfortunately for LCCC, the defense just couldn't find ways to slow the Wolfpack down even with Westmoreland's starting point guard out with a late shoulder injury. With Westmoreland scoring 32 points in the 2nd half and LCCC scoring 32, LCCC would fall by a final score of 59-50.

Although Coach Granito and his team have fallen to a season record of 1-6, the team still has high spirits as a handful of games have been winnable. "Tonight if you remove that bad start to the game, it's a different story. We just have to keep pushing, being aggressive and finding ways to score better. It will come."

After the holiday break, the Lady Commodores will hit the road for 3 games starting with Jamestown CC on Wednesday, November 30th.

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