 |
| CHC senior Bethanne Castone hit the
1000-point mark in career scoring during last Thursday’s
game. (Photo by Lene White) |
|
|
Castone marks milestone as Griffins gobble Gators
by TOM UTESCHER
Avenging a conference loss from the previous weekend, Chestnut Hill College
romped to a 20-point lead in the first half and continued on to a 73-42
victory over the College of Notre Dame last Thursday night.
Individual achievement was also on the evening’s agenda as a game-high
20-point performance by senior guard Bethanne Castone brought her career
total to exactly 1000 points. The Griffins bumped their record up to 5-3
within the Atlantic Women’s College Conference and to 8-5 overall,
while Notre Dame’s Gators returned to Maryland with a mark of 2-2
in the AWCC.
The visitors (7-5 overall) got out to a 7-4 lead before Castone started
off with the first of her four three-pointers in the contest. A 15-footer
by Kate Quintus moved CHC ahead for good, but a little over seven minutes
into the action, the Gators were still hanging in, only down 13-9.
That would change over the next six minutes as three straight field goals
by Lindsey Tornetta launched the Griffins on a 22-4 run that featured
a lively transition offense and tenacious defense at the other end. The
locals would make 56-percent of their shots from the floor during the
first half while CND’s figure was under 35, and the period ended
at 42-21.
Three Griffins had already hit double figures: Castone, with 13 points,
and Quintus and Tornetta, with 10 apiece.
As the second half progressed, Tara Walsh tallied twice on putbacks and
hit a pair of longer baskets to help the hosts maintain their momentum.
Castone bagged two jumpers to close in on the magic 1000, then she landed
right on the milestone by sinking a three-pointer from the right wing
at the 10 minute-mark.
That basket gave Chestnut Hill a commanding 65-31 lead, and it seemed
as if both teams realized that the game’s plot had essentially reached
its denouement, since neither ballclub scored for the next four-and-a-half
minutes. Going down the stretch, Notre Dame trimmed its deficit somewhat,
but at the end a lay-up and a three-pointer by CHC freshman Marianne Finfrock
drove the lead back above 30-points for a 73-42 final.
Quintus (seven rebounds) and Tornetta (five rebounds) wound up with 14
and 13 points, respectively, while point guard Judy Parise passed out
eight assists to go with five points. Walsh recorded a double-double with
12 points and 12 rebounds, and Andrea Carter (four points) collected a
game-high 13 rebounds to help the Griffins beat Notre Dame on the boards,
48-25.
With a total of 10 points, Monica Cherry was the only player to score
in double figures for the Gators, who got eight points apiece from Casie
Hall and Catherine Vecchione.
|
