Campus News

GC rebounds from first loss, routs Riverhawks

Canales scores 23, grabs 11 boards as Lady Lakers move to 5-1

Garrett College might have been tempted to overlook the Riverhawks. After all, Anne Arundel Community College limped into CARC Arena Wednesday night with a 2-8 record that included a 66-point loss to Montgomery College.

That record, however, also included a stunning, 72-67 victory over a Potomac State College squad that had beaten GC in overtime. And that eliminated any chance that the Lady Lakers might overlook AACC.

Josie Canales had game-highs in points (23), rebounds (11) and blocked shots (four) as Garrett College routed the Riverhawks, 87-48. Aliyah Tucker added 14 points with five rebounds, and Josias Mickens contributed 13 points and game-highs in assists (eight) and steals (four).

“This region is so competitive that anyone can beat anyone else on a given night,” said GC head coach JT Lewis, whose squad improved to 5-1. “We knew they had beaten Potomac State and we would need to be ready to play.”

The Lady Lakers started the game with a 7-2 spurt that Canales began with a layup off the opening tip and finished with an inside basket off an offensive rebound. Canales added a pair of 3-pointers later in the period, finishing with 14 points as Garrett rolled to a 21-12 lead after one quarter.

“Josie did a little bit of everything for us,” observed Lewis.

GC broke the game open in the second quarter. The Lady Lakers unleashed a 15-0 run that started with seven points from Tucker and ended with a 3-pointer from Vanessa Cooper (eight points, five rebounds) as the lead ballooned to 42-16.

“Aliyah did a good job for us with her presence inside,” said Lewis.

Harmoni Swain and Gabriella Valentinetti each chipped in six points and five rebounds. Aleeya Silver finished with six points and three assists for the Lady Lakers.

Leila Townsend (six rebounds, team-high three assists) and Isabella Papaleonti (team-high eight rebounds) each scored 13 points for the Riverhawks.

Leila Townsend and Isabella Papaleonti each scored 13 points to pace AACC.

While GC got back on the winning track, Lewis said the team is “still a work in progress.” He noted the team had another poor shooting night – 30 percent from the field, including 28 percent from the 3-point line.

“We have to find our identity, which I think is working it from the inside out,” said Lewis, who feels the Lakers are most successful by moving the ball inside for either a high-percentage shot or to kick it back out to an open shooter.

The Lakers are off until Friday, December 16th when they host Penn State Fayette at 5 p.m.