Avonworth guard Catherine Costa, pictured above, moves the ball up court in the ‘Lopes’ 62-30 victory over West Shamokin on Tuesday. Costa finished the game with 13 points, nine of which came in the third quarter. The girls travel to Ambridge tonight to face Bishop Canevin in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

In their WPIAL first round game played this past Tuesday at Fox Chapel, the Avonworth girls’ basketball team relied on their tough play defensively to keep West Shamokin off balance and win easily, 62-30.

The Lady ‘Lopes forced the Wolves into a dreadful 10-of-44 shooting the ball while forcing 17 turnovers.

"We had the perfect defense for them,” said head coach Bob Schulz. “They're a very deliberate team and we wanted to press them into playing an up-tempo game." He then stated,"They didn't get a lot of good looks."

In the first quarter, center Tara Gallupe scored nine of the game-high 21 points that helped Avonworth dart out to a quick lead.

A three-pointer by Molly Frew, a basket by Natalie Zivic and a free throw by Catherine Costa also came in the period where the ‘Lopes were 5-of-7 from the field on their way to a 15-4 lead by the end of the quarter.

West Shamokin, who was 1-of-11 from the field in the opening period, followed a basket by Frew to open the second quarter, with successive baskets to trail 17-9 when Avonworth put the clamps on defensively.

A basket by Marissa Milbert sent the ‘Lopes on a 13-2 run to extend the lead.

The Wolves were only slightly better in this quarter, shooting 2-of-10 from the field as Avonworth finished the period with a three-pointer by Zivic at the buzzer and led at halftime 30-11.

"I think that was the defining moment of the game," Schulz said later of the run to end the first half.

Costa took over offensively in the third quarter, scoring nine points as the Lady ‘Lopes were able to implement more of their transition game to produce an insurmountable lead.

Avonworth started the third with a 15-0 run and finished with a three-pointer by Frew at the buzzer that allowed them to outscore West Shamokin 22-6 and lead 52-17 going into the final quarter.

Erin Zakor and Dani Quinn added baskets in the fourth quarter, and Laura Presutti followed with a three-pointer at the buzzer to put the final score at 62-30.

"I think we played well as a team and we were very patient with the basketball," Schulz said.

Gallupe's 21 points were followed by Costa with 13, and Frew with 12.

The 'Lopes (21-1) are scheduled to meet Bishop Canevin today, Feb. 26, in a quarterfinal game to be played at Ambridge High School at 6:30 p.m.