Dec 18, 2009 By Zach Shoaf for The 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – For Geibel Catholic to defeat Monessen in Section 3-A opening play Gators coach Pat Klocek said he felt his team had to keep the score close given only the few players he had to substitute. However, the Lady Greyhounds were able to outpace the Lady Gators for a 71-44 win at the Gator Swamp Thursday night.

“We made only one substitution in the first half and only I think two before the final few minutes in the second half,” said Klocek. “We just got tired and when that happens the shots you take are a lot shorter. It was just a lot of physical and mental fatigue without a lot of substitutions to call upon.”

Klocek said he felt that the Lady Gators (0-1, 1-3) needed to stay within 10 points to have a chance to win.

“We felt like we had to keep it under 10 points and close within five points to have a chance to win,” said Klocek. “They scored the final eight or 10 points of the third quarter and that hurt us.”

Meanwhile, the Lady Greyhounds’ shooting success could be attributed to senior forward Tequerra Turner, sophomore forward Lauren Johnson and freshman guard Mariah Ward, whose 16, 24 and 19 points respectively contributed 59 points for the team.

“We have had decent scoring from those three so far this season,” said Monessen coach Gina Naccarato. “We wanted to be a better all around shooting team and I think we accomplished that.”

The Lady Greyhounds (1-0, 2-1) were without leading shooter Natawsja Sasnak who picked up three quick fouls in the first period and fouled out in the third quarter.

“She was out with a knee injury and this is her first game back,” said Naccarato. “She wasn’t herself tonight, but played fairly well in the first quarter.”

The Lady Greyhounds overcame an early 8-5 deficit with Ward and sophomore guard Geena Shrader scoring two quick baskets to take a 9-8 lead with 3:41 left in the first quarter.

The Lady Greyhounds closed out the first period outscoring the Lady Gators, 13-2, to take a 22-10 lead.

Senior forward Breanne Dowden scored two buckets to help the Lady Gators cut the lead to 24-16 with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter, but the Lady Greyhounds went on a 7-5 run to close out the first half and take a 31-21 lead into the locker room.

The Lady Gators were able to cut the lead to 37-30 with 5:00 left in the third quarter following a Rebecca Sandor basket, but the Lady Greyhounds once again pulled away towards the end of the period on a 13-2 run that gave them a 50-32 lead going into the final period.

Junior guard Hannah Lazuka lead the Lady Gators with 11 points, while Sandor finished with 10 points.

The Lady Gators travel to Connellsville Saturday evening, while the Lady Greyhounds host Fort Cherry.