For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – Padua traveled to Archmere on Jan. 27 and defeated the Auks, 49-35, in a game pushed back two days because of snow. The rust showed in the first half, as both teams struggled to score. Archmere had been off for 12 days, while Padua was idle for a week.
The Auks jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead as freshman Emma McCann hit a jumper and Maggie Malloy followed with a layup. Padua rebounded with the next six, taking the lead on a pair of free throws by Megan Mallon. That lead was short-lived as McCann hit a three-pointer. The Auks led, 9-6, after one.
It was back and forth in the second as a bucket by Amanda Denning gave the Auks a 15-12 advantage. Padua tied it at halftime thanks to a layup from Mallon and a Mackenzie Scully free throw.
The Pandas found their offense in the third. Scully nailed a three, and Camryn Scully scored on a putback as the visitors went up, 21-18. McCann tied it again, but Padua followed with an 11-0 run. Mallon had nine of those points, including a long three-pointer.
Meanwhile, Padua’s defense forced several turnovers, and Mallon got to the foul line for some big free throws. It was 32-25 after three after Archmere scored the final four points of the quarter on free throws.
The Pandas got those four back at the start of the final quarter on consecutive Mallon layups. The senior would then take eight trips to the foul line, hitting seven of the free throws to extend the lead.
“When the outside shot is not falling, I like to drive to the basket, draw the foul and hit the free throws that we practice a lot,” Mallon said.
Denning scored five of seven Archmere points down the stretch, but Mackenzie Scully had two layups in the final minute to secure the win.
Mallon finished with 26 points, including 13 of 15 from the foul line. Each of the Scully sisters had eight points as the Pandas improved to 5-6. They play on Friday at home vs. Conrad at 3 p.m.
For Archmere, which fell to 7-5, McCann had 12 and Denning added nine. The Auks host Caravel on Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
