Spartans Remain Red Hot with Fifth Straight Win
YORK, PA – The York College women’s
basketball team rolled to their fifth straight victory Sunday
afternoon courtesy of a 92-54 win over the visiting Raptors from
Rutgers-Camden. The Spartans, who posted a new school record by
shooting 56.5 percent from the floor for the game, move their
season mark to 5-1 while their guests drop to 0-4 on the year.
Senior point guard Keli Ward
(Nottingham, Pa./Oxford) led the green and white with 17
points on a flawless 4-for-4 from the floor and a sterling 9-for-10
from the charity stripe. Ward dished-out a team-best nine assists,
just barely missing her fourth double-double of the year, and
registered five rebounds and four steals.
York opened the game with a 12-3 run over
the first 3:51 as four different Spartans finding the bottom of the
net. Camden would close the York lead to six points on two separate
occasions in the first half before the Spartans steadily pulled
away from their counterparts.
York’s lead grew to as much as 29
by the end of the first frame at 50-21. The Spartans headed to the
locker room shooting a strong 19-for-33 from the field and
11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
The second half proved much of the same
for both sides as York continued to control play at both ends of
the floor. The Spartans would build their advantage to as much as
43 points on a Jamie Polan (York, Pa./West York)
free throw with 10:58 remaining in the contest. With the game well
in-hand, head coach Betsy Witman was able to find each player
significant minutes, which could prove valuable as the season
progresses.
Twelve different Spartans scored in the
game as York’s crisp ball movement led to numerous open
looks. The green and white converted 35 of their 62 attempts to
establish the new program high in single-game shooting percentage.
York also put up sparkling numbers from the charity stripe, going
20-of-24 from the line.
Along with their stellar offensive
effort, York played stifling defense which forced the Raptors into
a mere 30.2 percent shooting from the floor and 26 turnovers which
the Spartans converted into 37 points.
Sophomore guard April Sparkman
(Walkersville, Md./Walkersville) poured in 13 points going
5-for-7 from the field while senior forward Chanel Perez
(Biglerville, Pa./Gettysburg) tallied eleven points and
led the green and white with six rebounds. Sophomore forward
Jaimie Sapp (Bluemont, Va./Loudoun Valley) was the
fourth Spartan in double-figures with ten points on the afternoon.
Senior guard Amanda Andrews (Fallston,
Md./Fallston) chipped-in with nine points and four
steals.
Casey Crenny paced the Raptors offense
with 22 points on 5-for-8 shooting, including a trio of
three-pointers, going 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Stephanie
Deisley was the Raptors second-leading scorer registering ten
points.
Over York’s five consecutive
victories since their season-opening loss to Messiah, the Spartans
have scored at a rate of 85.2 points per game and winning by an
average of 26.2 points. The Spartans will test that offensive
prowess and put their five-game streak on the line on Wednesday,
December 3, as the green and white travel to Hood College to open
up their 2008-09 Capital Athletic Conference slate. Tip-off from
Frederick Community College is set for 6:00 pm.
Keli Ward photo courtesy of Eric Linsley