Avonworth’s Tara Gallupe scored 27 points in the Lady “Lopes win against Freedom on Monday. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

The Avonworth girls’ basketball team dealt with the soft spot in their schedule, adding two easy victories to remain undefeated at 15-0 on the season.

On Thursday, Jan. 21, the top ranked 'Lopes traveled to South Side Beaver and disposed of the Rams 67-25.

On Monday, Jan. 25, Avonworth hosted Freedom and obliterated the Bulldogs 74-13.

"It looked like we had a lot of energy tonight," said coach Bob Schulz after the Freedom game. "But then again that's not a good team we're playing either," Schulz said of a Bulldogs team that is still in search of its first win of the season.

The 'Lopes displayed their dominance right away, forcing seven turnovers in the first quarter that led to easy scores.

Tara Gallupe and Lauren Mayernik combined for 19 points in the opening period offensively, while the 'Lopes’ defense disrupted the Bulldogs on offense, allowing Avonworth to move to a 24-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

"We've been working on our defense the last four nights - ever since Northgate hit those nine threes," Schulz said in reference to their match-up against the Flames early last week.

Avonworth used a 13-0 run in the second quarter to extend their lead when Freedom finally got on the scoreboard with a basket to put the score at 37-2 with 2:39 left in the half.

Avonworth outscored the Bulldogs 7-2 through the remainder of the period to lead at the half 44-4.

With the mercy rule in effect and frequent substitutions by the 'Lopes, Avonworth continued to dominate play, outscoring Freedom 16-5 in the third quarter to lead 60-9.

Catherine Costa, who hit on two three-pointers in the third, duplicated her effort in the fourth quarter with another pair of threes as the 'Lopes outscored the Bulldogs 14-4 to finalize the 74-13 victory.

The Lady ‘Lopes, who have been up and down from the free throw line this year, shot 84.6 percent on 11 of 13 on the night.

"I'm happy," Schulz said. "I thought we did a great job all around."

Gallupe finished with 27 points, followed by Costa with 19, Mayernik with 10, Molly Frew, Natalie Zivic, Marissa Milbert and Erin Zakor with four apiece, and Laura Presutti with two points.

In Avonworth's victory over South Side Beaver, Schulz again was pleased, noting his team’s play on defense, in transition and overall team effort.

Against the Rams, Gallupe led Avonworth scorers with 27 points, followed by Costa with 14, Mayernik with 10 and Presutti with 7.