Rock Hill girls cruise past Northwestern
The Rock Hill girls outscored Northwestern by 36 points for about a quarter’s worth of game action to turn a close game into a route. The Bearcats defeated the Trojans 78-30 Thursday night at Rock Hill to remain undefeated at 7-0 in Region 3-4A.
The game was moved up a day to avoid an expected winter storm due to hit the area Friday.
The Bearcats closed the first half on a 17-2 run to double up the Trojans 40-20 at the half. Rock Hill hit four 3-pointers during the run, including two from RiKoya Anderson. The first of her threes came from the right corner and busted the Trojans’ zone. That made it 26-18 and started the scoring spree with 5:10 to go in the second quarter. She had nine points in the quarter and 13 in the half. Kendall Lahr had the final five points of the half for Rock Hill and nine in the half.
It had been a close game up until that point with the Bearcats leading 16-12 after the first period. Cayley Howell led Northwestern with seven in the quarter, including two threes. Rock Hill outscored the Trojans 26-5 in the third. NaNa Jones had all five for Northwestern.
Turning point
Rock Hill was up 23-18 when Anderson hit a corner 3-pointers with 5:10 left until halftime. Rock Hill closed the half on a 17-2 run and scored the first 21 of the third quarter before Jones hit two free throws for the Trojans with 2:05 to play in the third to make it 61-22.
Critical
The Bearcats continuously got steals that turned into fast breaks and layups on the other end. Rock Hill is so deep it can push the tempo without fear of fatigue.
Top performers
Anderson led all scorers with 15. Abriana Green and Lahr joined her in double figures with 14 and 13. Madison Hendrix had several nice dishes for assists and Kayleigh Schneider had two threes and eight points. Jones led the Trojans with 13.
Overheard
“We just can’t get complacent.” -Rock Hill coach Kenny Orr, said of the remainder of the season
“We weren’t playing our style of basketball early and we got in foul trouble.” -Orr, on the early stages of the game.
“We don’t really have a set starting five. We have a lot of starters. Madison really makes us go when she’s in there.” -Orr on Madison Hendrix.
On deck
Rock Hill goes to Nation Ford next Friday and Northwestern plays at Gaffney on Tuesday.
Rock Hill 78, Northwestern 30
Rock Hill | 16 | 24 | 26 | 12 | - | 78 |
Northwestern | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | - | 30 |
Individual scoring: RH - RiKoya Anderson 15, Abriana Green 14, Kendall Lahr 13, Madison Hendrix 8, Monique Stevenson 8, Modesty Fobbs 6, T Ballard 3, Kayleigh Snyder 8, Whitney Malone 1, Malaria Bahena 2. NW - NaNa Jones 13, Z Douglas 3, Cayley Howell 9, Haley Suskin 2, Macie Wingate 2, Canijah Taylor 1. Three-point shooting: RH - 7. Schneider 2, Anderson 2, Lahr, Green, Hendrix. NW - Howell 2. Team fouls: RH - 22. NW - 18. Records - Rock Hill 17-2, 7-0 Region 3-4A; Northwestern 2-11, 1-6.
This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Rock Hill girls cruise past Northwestern."