By JIM RUMBLE

While the Avonworth girls basketball team added three more wins to their season over the past week, the game that was of interest to most local fans was when they hosted the Northgate Flames on Monday, Jan. 17.

Led by Lauren Mayernik's 22 points, the Lady ‘Lopes cruised to an easy win over the Flames 59-22.

What was also noteworthy was the play of forward Natalie Zivic, who stepped up big with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Avonworth head coach Bob Schulz, who remarked that all six of her baskets came from the outside, said, "Natalie had a great game tonight - she was on fire."

Zivic's jumper, followed by Erin Zakor's put-back, sent the Lady ‘Lopes to a 4-0 lead early in the first quarter. Northgate's Sarah Dunn followed with a basket from just outside the key, but Catherine Costa answered with a 3-pointer that sent the 'Lopes on an 11-0 run that included two baskets by Zivic and one each by L. Mayernik and Mackenzie Mayernik.

The Flames' Chloe Quinn knocked down a 3-pointer to finish the scoring in the opening quarter as Avonworth led 15-5.

Costa took over on offense in the second quarter to help Avonwoth to extend their lead.

Northgate started the quarter with a free throw by Dunn and a jumper by Savannah Paladin, but Costa followed with two baskets from beyond the arc, putting Avonworth up 21-8. Quinn had a 3-pointer for the Flames before the 'Lopes put together a 10-0 run through the remainder of the quarter to take a 31-11 lead into halftime.

Avonworth took advantage of Northgate's foul situation and began to concentrate on getting the ball down low on offense in the third quarter. That all worked out well for L. Mayernik, who scored 12 points for the 'Lopes from inside the paint.

Northgate's Tasha Reeves added a basket and Paladin made a free throw, but Avonworth outscored the Flames 14-3 to lead 45-14 going into the fourth quarter.

The Lady ‘Lopes continued to dominate with a 14-1 run through the fourth quarter before the Flames' Quinn and Kayla Saylor combined for a 7-0 Northgate run that put the final score at 59-22.

After the game, Northgate coach Dave Sylvester said, "I like that the girls kept playing hard." The Flames’ first year coach added, "It's a program that's been struggling, and I'm here to help and try and change things."

Following L. Mayernik's 22 points for Avonworth were Costa with 18, Zivic's 13, M. Mayernik with 4 and Zakor with 2. Paladin led Northgate scorers with 7 points ,followed by Quinn with 6, Dunn with 4, Saylor with 3 and Reeves with 2.

The Lady 'Lopes' first win over the past week came at Freedom in a section game on Thursday, Jan. 13, when they won handily 72-22.

"Our half court man-to-man ([defense) looked good tonight -- we moved the ball real well on offense and we fast broke ,which was good to see," said Schulz after that game.

The 'Lopes shot 9-15 in the first quarter, with 11 points coming as a result of their transition game.

L. Mayernik posted 12 points in the opening period as Avonworth outscored Freedom 22-3.
Costa got into the act on offense in the second quarter, scoring 9 to help Avonworth increase their lead to 37-11 by halftime.

Although the 'Lopes shot only 6-13 from the line in the third quarter, they still managed to expand their lead, outscoring the Bulldogs 19-6 to lead 56-17 going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Montee'a Hunter scored 5 points and Erika Thomas added 4 points as reserve players got extended playing time to complete the 72-22 victory.

"We got everybody in tonight and worked real hard," Schulz said afterwards.

L. Mayernik finished with 25 points, followed by Costa with 22 and Zakor and M. Mayernik each with 6 points.

This past Wednesday the Lady 'Lopes hosted Knoch in a nonsection make-up game from early December, and butchered the Knights 71-24.

After the game, Schulz praised his team's performance offensively, getting a good balance of scoring inside and on the perimeter. He then turned his attention to the defense, stating, "I thought we played one of our best defensive games of the year. We were in the spots we were suppose to be in tonight."

Costa, who set the school record for 3-pointers when she connected on four of them in the third quarter, led all scorers with 24 points. L. Mayernik finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds. M. Mayernik had 9 points followed by Laura Presutti's 6, Zivic and Moriah Eck with 4 each and Zakor and Hunter with 2 points apiece.