Staff reporter
WILMINGTON – Perhaps the Ursuline Raiders remembered their last game against Padua, a 57-49 win on Dec. 19. The Pandas were within four points going into the fourth quarter and played Ursuline closer than any other Delaware opponent except St. Elizabeth. Or maybe that game was the furthest thing from their minds.
Whatever the case, top-ranked Ursuline made sure there would be no repeat, jumping out to a big lead in the first quarter and not letting up, defeating the Pandas, 60-33. The Raiders received 18 points each from Adrianna Hahn and Kailyn Kampert. Hahn scored 15 of her points in the first half, while Kampert did most of her damage – 12 points – in the third quarter.
Padua took the lead three times in the first quarter, all thanks to Taylor Hazewski. The junior scored off a rebound of a missed shot in the first minute to make it 2-0. After a three-pointer by Ursuline’s Laura Hurff, Hazewski scored again for a 4-3 Pandas lead. Hahn then hit the first of her three treys to give Ursuline a 6-4 advantage, but Hazewski answered with one of her own. That, however, would be the last time Padua would be in front.
Ursuline (12-3) took control, going on an 8-0 run and outscoring Padua, 13-2, over the rest of the first quarter. They extended the lead to 40-17 at the half, using a smothering defense and hot shooting to put the game out of reach. Padua committed several turnovers, and when the Pandas did get open looks, they were not connecting.
Ursuline hit nine three-point shots for the game, seven of those in the first half.
After the intermission, Ursuline’s starters returned for a cameo before they departed to give the bench some significant minutes. The Raiders will head to New Rochelle, N.Y., this weekend for an Ursuline sister school tournament, taking on Ursuline Academy of St. Louis, Mo., on Friday and the Ursuline School of New Rochelle on Saturday. Their next game in Delaware will be next Tuesday at St. Elizabeth.
Emily Thiemann scored 12 points for Padua, which fell to 7-7. The Pandas travel to A.I. DuPont for a game Friday at 5:15 p.m. The $5 admission fee will go toward Coaches vs. Cancer. They also play Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Cape Henlopen.
