For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – Archmere and Padua, making up a game postponed by icy temperatures earlier this month, started out a bit cold themselves, but the teams heated up as the afternoon wore on, with Padua pulling away late for a 49-41 win in girls basketball Saturday in Claymont.
Both teams played Friday and were slow to start Saturday. The Auks and Pandas committed several turnovers and missed a bunch of shots early, although Archmere found the mark and led, 12-8, after one quarter. The scoring was nearly identical in the second, with the Auks taking a 23-15 lead into the locker room. Padua scored just seven points in the second quarter, with six of them coming from junior Emily Thiemann.
The Pandas warmed up after the break, scoring the first 16 points of the third quarter to grab a 31-23 lead. Senior Emma Matthews keyed the run with a key jumper and a three-pointer, plus she forced a few turnovers. Senior Rachel Liskiewicz scored eight of her game-high 14 points in the third, and the Pandas kept Archmere off the board until just 1:45 remained.
The Auks trailed, 35-29, going into the final stanza but regained the lead with a quick 8-0 run. Senior Amanda Olsen scored eight of her 10 points in the fourth for Archmere to lead the run, including a perfect six-for-six from the free-throw line. Padua junior Taylor Hazewski then scored off a steal to tie the game at 37 with four minutes to go, then she scored again. Three free throws by Matthews made the score 44-41, and Liskiewicz put the game out of reach with a reverse layup and free throw with 1:22 left.
The Pandas climbed back to the .500 mark at 5-5 with their third straight win. They next play on Tuesday at St. Elizabeth at 7:15 p.m. Archmere fell to 6-4; the Auks travel to Conrad on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. tip.
