KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA
Box Score – Game Two

In the second day of the tournament, the Valley Forge women's basketball team played against Clearwater Christian College.  The game was a tale of two different halves.  In the first half, the team used a patient and balanced attack.  Six different players scored.  They also took good care of the basketball and kept things close, trailing 27-19 at the half. 

The second half saw CCC catch fire from the 3 point line (6-13) and forced 20 turnovers on the Patriots.  This was too much for the Patriots to overcome as CCC went on to win.  Hallie Linville, for the Cougars, scored a game high 26 points.  The Patriots were led in scoring by Naomi Thompson, 7 points.  The Patriots were defeated 76-30.

Game Three

The team then had a quick turnaround and played against Mid-Atlantic Christian, on Saturday.  Ariene Ohimor helped get the Patriots off to a very hot start, building an early lead, 11-2.  The Mustangs of Mid-Atlantic rebounded well and got it back to a one point game (15-14) at the 11:28 mark.  The rally was capped off by a three pointer from Lacresha Young, who finished with a game high 17 points.  After some back and forth play, Young hit another three to take the lead for the Mustangs with 9:13 to play in the first half.  One of the keys of the game was the defensive pressure from the Mustangs.  They forced 12 turnovers on the Patriots in the first half and pushed their lead to 37-26 at the break.  Patience Ekuta kept the team close with 8 points in the first half, including 2-3 from 3 point range.

In the first two days of the tournament, the Patriots had second half difficulties.  Today would be a different story.  A very determined team came out in the second half and the Patriots would not go away.  After a layup from Jerylin Ellis at 12:45, the Patriots pulled to within six points (40-34).  Bailey Mayforth and Ohimor trimmed the lead down to two.  Then Shequoya Bonner tied things up at 45 with 7:37 to play.  The teams went back and forth the next few minutes, but the game was still tied with less than two minutes to play.  The winner of this game would be the team that could execute down the stretch.  After a missed free throw from Ohimor, Cham Brice, of the Mustangs, hit a jumper with 1:38 to play.  Then the Patriots had some opportunities on the offensive end, but could not capitalize.  They put Lacresha Young on the foul line with 22 seconds to play and she iced the game by hitting both.  The final score was 56-50.

Bailey Mayforth led the Patriots in scoring with 16 points and a game-high 9 assists.  Ohimor finished with a double-double, 10 points and 13 rebounds.  Naomi Thompson and Patience Ekuta each contributed 8 points.

The Patriots will now travel back home and prepare for a Tuesday night contest against Bryn Mawr College at 7pm at The Pit!

Go Patriots!