A 16-0 second quarter run helped Kirtland turn a two-point lead into a 59-29 win over visiting Hawken on Wednesday.
The Hornets held a slight 14-12 lead early in the second quarter. By halftime, the Hornets pushed that advantage to 30-12 and they finished off the Hawks in the second half.
“A little pressure defense really helped us there,” said Kirtland coach Bob Bell. “We got some transition baskets that helped a lot. We needed that.”
Sydney Snyder and Jenna Sayle both scored 16 points to lead the Hornets and Amber Yurick pitched in with 11.
Having three players score in double figures makes it very difficult for opposing defenses to zero in on any one player.
“That takes some pressure off Sydney,” Bell said. “It gives us better balance and more options offensively.”
Lauren Snyder and Lauren Lutz scored six and five, respectively, for the Hornets and Julia Camino finished with three. Katie McCollister added two points in the win.
“Katie and Lauren Snyder were both instrumental in our pressure defense causing a lot of turnovers,” Bell said. “They didn’t get a lot of steals but they created a situation that made it very difficult for Hawken. They did a great job for us as did Julia Camino off the bench.”
Lauren Lutz posted a team-high nine rebounds while Sydney Snyder and Sayle pulled down seven and six, respectively.
The Hornets outrebounded the Hawks, 30-17.
“That’s big because offensively you can get a few more looks at the basket and defensively they’re important because it keeps the opponent from getting a second and third shot,” Bell said. “Our girls are hungry to get rebounds and they know how important it is and they go after it.”
Yurick’s 11 points were a career-high for the freshman.
“What I feel was working best for me tonight offensively was driving to the hole and being able to either go up strong and look to draw the foul or kick it out to a shooter,” Yurick said. “I was able to create shots by using hesitation on the dribble to fake the defense out to be able to take it to the basket.”
Kirtland, ranked sixth in the latest AP Division III state poll, improved to 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division. Hawken dropped to 4-5, 3-3.
Kirtland 59, Hawken 29
Hawken: Perusek 23 , Stilson 6
Kirtland (12-0, 6-0): McCollister 2, L. Snyder 6 , S. Snyder 16, Sayle 16 , Lutz 5 , Camino 3, Yurick 11
Hawken 4 8 10 7 — 29
Kirtland 11 19 19 10 — 59
Free throws: Hawken 6 of 9, Kirtland 7 of 15; 3-pointers: Hawken 1 (Perusek), Kirtland 0 ; Rebounds: Hawken 17, Kirtland 30 (Lutz 9); Assists: Hawken 5, Kirtland 19 (S. Snyder 9)
