For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – The St Elizabeth Vikings got balanced scoring and solid defense to turn away the Woodbridge Blue Raiders, 67-34, to win their season opener.
The Lady Vikings struggled hitting shots early but forced many early turnovers, and they started to make Woodbridge pay. The Vikings went on a 11-0 run fueled by five points from Alexis Bromwell to take an early 11-2 lead. The Blue Raiders scored the last four points of the quarter, which ended with St. Elizabeth leading, 11-6.
The Vikings caught fire in the second quarter as they hit 10 field goals, including three 3-pointers. St. E’s also played the last six minutes of the half without Bromwell, who was on the bench with three fouls. Junior Sarah Metz hit a couple of 3-pointers; the second one gave the team a 24-15 lead. Then eighth-grader Julie McCarron, playing in her first varsity game, scored on a lay up and a 10-foot jumper as the Vikings started pulling away.
The Blue Raiders forced some Vikings fouls and hit eight of 10 foul shots in the quarter to make a little run. But St. Elizabeth sophomore Ya-Kyra Smith-Hines scored all eight of her points in the second quarter, the last two giving the home team a 36-21 halftime lead.
The Vikings picked up the pressure in the second half, and a steal and lay up by McCarron gave them a 9-0 run to start the quarter. Bromwell and McCarron were big in the quarter, combining for 14 of the team’s 19 points as St. Elizabeth took a 55-28 lead into the fourth.
The Vikings (1-0) had three players in double figures. McCarron led with 16 points, while Bromwell added 13 and Metz 12. The Vikings are home Tuesday night as they host Caesar Rodney at 6:45 pm.
The Blue Raiders were lead by freshmen Tykeya Nelson, who had nine points, while senior Altia Anderson added eight – six of them came from the free throw line. The Blue Raiders host Indian River on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.
