For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – St. Elizabeth used a 30-10 run in the second half to defeat Catholic Conference rival Padua, 71-50, on Jan. 9 at the St. E Center.
The biggest baskets during the run came from eighth-grader Julie McCarron, who hit two key three-pointers in the final minute of the third quarter. The Pandas were on a 7-0 run – all of the points coming from senior Meg Mallon – and were within 40-34. To make matters worse, the Vikings had lost junior Alanna Speaks to an injury.
St. Elizabeth responded with a 12-2 streak to end the third, including McCarron’s triples and field goals from Sarah Metz and Kailee Gautier. The Lady Vikings kept the momentum going into the fourth, starting on an 18-8 run. They were 13 of 17 from the foul line in the fourth and 22 of 30 for the game. Alexis Bromwell was a perfect 10 of 10.
“I know how important free throws are, and I wanted them to extend the lead,” Bromwell said.
St. Elizabeth coach Dan Cooney added, “We practice free throws all the time in practice including after running to simulate shooting late in the game.”
The game started with both offenses clicking in the first quarter as Mallon hit two three-pointers from way downtown. Metz, Speaks and Dymond Collins all hit threes to give the Lady Vikings a 17-10 lead. Padua senior Gabby Julian scored the rare four-point play, nailing a triple and the foul shot to cut it to 17-14 at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw McCarron and Alexis Lee each scoring a pair of two-point field goals as the Vikings took a 29-22 lead into the half.
The Lady Vikings had balance scoring. McCarron led them with 15 points, while Bromwell added 12 and Speaks 11. Gautier had eight. The Vikings improved to 6-1 and are off until next Friday when they travel to Caravel for a 7:15 p.m. start.
Meg Mallon finished with a game-high 29 points, including 14 of 19 from the free throw line. Julian added eight for the Pandas, who fell to 2-6 on the season. The Pandas host Newark Charter at 5:15 p.m. on Friday.
