Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Padua stormed out to a large first-quarter lead on its way to a 42-30 win over A.I. duPont Thursday night. The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Pandas.
Padua received a balanced scoring effort, with Claudia Spink leading the way with 10 points off the bench. Teresa Highberger had eight points, including a short turnaround jumper after a rebound for the first field goal of the game.
That first quarter was key for Padua (10-5). They hit two of their three three-point shots in the first eight minutes and held A.I. without a field goal, taking a 12-1 lead after one. In fact, after that free throw made the score 4-1, the Pandas scored the next 13 points stretching into the second.
Alexandria Ferrell hit an eight-footer for A.I.’s first field goal nearly 11 minutes into the game, sparking the Tigers, who were playing with just six girls. They scored six points in the final minute of the half to cut the halftime deficit to 24-11.
Padua led by 17 after three quarters, a hill too tall for the Tigers to overcome.
The Pandas have their final two home games of the season next week. The Hun School (N.J.) visits Monday at 5 p.m., and St. Mark’s will be the guest for Senior Night on Tuesday, with a tip time of 7:15 p.m.
Lauryn Griffin and Jasmine Fisher each had seven points for A.I., which lost its third straight and fell to 10-5. The Tigers are back in action Saturday, when they travel to Claymont to meet Archmere at 1:15 p.m.
