Lady Falcons earn first win of coach’s career
Connellsville had a strong opening quarter and hit its free throws down the stretch for a 59-46 non-section victory over Woodland Hills on Saturday in the Fayette County Coaches Association Tip-Off Tournament at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
The win was not only the first of the season for the Lady Falcons, but the first in the coaching career of Emily Daugherty.
“I thought we played our game more today,” Daugherty said. “We didn’t play our game last night. We didn’t get to run. We got to run more this game, and that gets us going. Our defensive stops turned into offense.
“It is good to get that first win out of the way. On Tuesday, we start a streak of four games in seven days, and that’s what we are focused on now.”
The Lady Falcons (1-1) held a 43-33 lead entering the fourth quarter, and although they were held to two field goals, shot 12 of 14 at the foul line to make sure the Lady Wolverines (1-1) didn’t mount a comeback. Connellsville’s Dae-Lin Burnsworth was 6 of 6 at the foul line in the fourth, and 9 of 12 overall.
“I stress free throws a lot to them,” Daugherty said. “In practices and stuff like that, we shoot them all the time. In the beginning of the game, we were 4 of 13 in the first half, and I knew if it came down to free throws at the end, we had to be solid. Dae-Lin (Burnsworth) had some big free throws and that helped seal it.”
The Lady Falcons jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first with J’Taya Pirl making one of her two 3-pointers. Connellsville took a 15-7 advantage into the second.
“We are not a big outside shooting team, but that was great for our momentum,” Dougherty said. “I always tell J’Taya, ‘shoot, shoot, shoot,’ and she is the one that nailed those two.”
The Lady Falcons outscored Woodland Hills, 11-10, in the second for a 26-17 halftime lead. Connellsville had a 17-16 edge in the third.
The Lady Falcons’ Heather Ansell scored 10 points on four field goals, and was 2 of 3 at the foul line.
The Lady Wolverines’ Joi Burleigh led all scorers with 20 points on five field goals, and was 10 of 14 at the foul line.
“She had a lot of rebounds and put-back shots,” Daugherty said. “We really stress on things like boxing out and getting those rebounds. We will work on that when we get back to practice.”