The Darien girls basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak with an impressive win over Bridgeport Central on Tuesday night at home, doubling up the score with an offense that was predicated on aggressive defense. The Wave won 64-32 in a game in which the Wave never trailed.
The Hilltoppers played without their top scorer and captain, Talisha Peeler (18.6 points-per-game) who was out with an ankle sprain. But their next best scorer, Natalie McLaughlin (10.8 points-per-game), and one of the top three-point shooters in the conference (42 3-pointers this season), had nothing on Darien.
Wave co-captain Liz Calby never gave McLaughlin any room. That, mixed in with some suffocating zone defenses was key to Darien's win.
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"I thought we played well—it was a good effort." Calby said.
Darien did an excellent job in shutting down passing lanes causing Bridgeport turnovers. Calby and Nicole Buch led the way with Meg Marren controlling the boards.
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"We played our game tonight and took advantage of their turnovers," said Marren.
Darien had a seven-point lead after one quarter and led by 12 at halftime. Calby had eight points at the intermission followed by Marren with seven and Buch with six. Phyllisse was high sorer for the Hilltoppers with 10 points including three three-pointers.
Darien pulled away in the second half with a basket by Marren, followed by three consecutive Buch scores for 39-23 lead. The Darien girls were running their half-court offense crisply, and on one basket, the result of some nice passing to a cutting Annarae Anderson, teammates and the crowd jumped to their feet in appreciation.
It was more of the same in the fourth as the Wave continued to pick off passes and convert them into easy baskets. Darien opened up a 30-point lead midway through the period and won 64-32.
"After losing five in a row it was nice to get back on the winning track, especially since we played well," Coach Peterson said afterwards.
Darien (9-8) has already qualified for the state championships, and in order to qualify for the FCIACs, Peterson said they'll "have to win their final three, and get some help from other teams."
Those final three teams are Fairfield Warde, Danbury and Westhil.
LEADING SCORERS
Darien:
Calby 20 points
Marren 13
Buch 12
Bridgeport:
Lewis 17 points
