Defense wins championships, and Notre Dame Prep girls’ basketball squad is hoping that rings true this season. Monday evening, the Blazers stymied Dulaney for a 36-17 non-league decision.
Senior Covie Stanwick led all scorers with 11 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for Notre Dame Prep, and Katie McKenna finished with 10 points and five steals. Nia Marrow and Cristy Askew had four points to lead Dulaney (1-2 overall).
The Towson private school held the Baltimore County 4A/3A squad to just six field goals, improving its mark to 4-0 on the young season. Notre Dame Prep coach Katie Marks was impressed with the effort.
“We talk about it all the time, if the offense is struggling as long as the defense steps up, we’ll be in a position to win,” said Marks, whose team is allowing just 32 points a game.
The Blazers only had five field goals in the first half and led 15-9 at halftime. Notre Dame Prep found its offensive rhythm immediately with Sydney Tommins (five steals) hitting a three-pointer and Stanwick converting a runner within first 90 seconds.
Rachel Quinn and McKenna each came up with a steal and layup, completing a 7-0 run that put the Blazers in full command at 29-11 entering the final quarter. Quinn said Notre Dame Prep sought to keep the intensity on Dulaney’s offense.
“We cut off a lot of passes and got a lot of steals,” said Quinn, a senior. “We recognized who their scorers were and shut down them as soon as we could.”
Dulaney coach Richard Welsh was disappointed his experienced team couldn’t handle Notre Dame Prep’s defense. Welsh admitted not having a true point guard also hindered the Timonium school’s cause.
“We should be doing better right now,” ‘said Welsh. “We missed the first couple of baskets, and we start feeling down. We don’t have the intestinal fortitude right now to pick the boot straps and get after it.”
Quinn, McKenna and Tommins, a sophomore, headlined an experience roster that lost to Severn School, 51-50, in last winter’s IAAM B finals. The Blazers, who trailed by 14 points in the second half, missed a desperation shot at the buzzer to win it.
With Severn now up in the A, Notre Dame Prep is considered the favorite. Marks said the Blazers are different from last season’s squad, especially in the post.
“We’re not owed anything because we got so far last year,” said Marks. “They’ve done a good job accepting that. We’re nowhere near where we were last February.”
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