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Horace Greeley, 49-45

RYE, N.Y. – While Horace Greeley concentrated its’ defensive effort on neutralizing Rye center Grace Leishman, Rachel Egan and Katie Killip took over, especially in the second half.

The duo combined for 17 of Rye’s 25 points in the second half as the Garnets staved off the Quakers, 49-45 in a Class A girls basketball game on Thursday.

Egan finished with 16 points, seven assists and three steals and Killip scored her 10 points in the second half. She also added four assists and four steals. Grace Leishman had 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half.

Egan and Killip played a two-girl game in the third quarter, accounting for Rye’s 10 points. The Quakers were doubling Leishman in their zone, so Egan took the ball to the basket. And each time a Greeley defender slid over to obstruct her path, Egan found Killip cutting, along the baseline, to the basket.

“We were practicing that play yesterday,” Egan said. “We knew if they were playing zone, we would be able to drive and dish because they were going to come to help.

“We made the adjustment after the first quarter with Katie stepping down the baseline.”

Even with Egan and Killip scoring, Rye was only leading by two points – 34-32 – after three. The Garnets scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, including four by Killip, extending their lead to eight – 40-32.

Greeley went scoreless for the first 2:40 of the fourth before Jackie Brett, who had a team-leading 19 points, heated up. She brought Greeley within a hoop – 41-39 with 1:55 remaining – on two baskets and an assist to Lindsay Hill, but Rye scored seven of the next eight points.

The Quakers did have an opportunity to force overtime. After forcing a five-second violation on an in-bounds play, Greeley got the ball back with 17 seconds, but a pair of three-point attempts hit the rim and bounced away.

“This was a good win for us because it gives us a lot of confidence,” Egan said. “We are now 4-0 in the league and they are one of the toughest teams in the league.”

Brett added seven assists and four steals to her 19 points. Hill finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Andi Picker netted nine points and had seven steals.Horace Greeley 9 11 12 13 – 45 Rye 12 12 10 15 – 49

Horace Greeley (45) – Sam Srinivasan 0-0-0, Lindsay Hill 4-2-10, Issy Berkey 1-4-7, Andi Picker 4-0-9, Jackie Brett 9-1-19, Tori Ganzi 0-0-0, Molly Gonzalez 0-0-0. Totals: 18-7-45.Rye (49) – Hannah Billingsley 0-0-0, Rachel Egan 5-5-16, Grace Leishman 8-4-20, Katie Killip 5-0-10, Victoria Pacos 0-0-0, Courtney Cypher 0-3-3, Brigid Lonergan 0-0-0, Alanna Morque 0-0-0. Totals: 18-12-49.3-point goals – HG: Picker, Berkey; R: Egan.

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