The No. 2 Panthers controlled the game for four quarters in their Tuesday night victory over No. 9 Bryant & Stratton, 81-63.
Mia Simpson, Claire Hyde, and Kaylen Evans dropped 50 of the team's 81 points. The ability to put the ball on the deck and attack the rim proved to be the difference. The double-digit victory for the Panthers was another matchup where the star trio had an advantage on both ends of the court.
While the team entered the night averaging 14.4 three-pointers per game (most in NJCAA DII), the Panthers executed on the offensive end despite only hitting seven on the night. One knows a program has reached elite status when connecting on seven from beyond the arc is below their season average.
Leading 38-20 at halftime, we never saw the Bobcats cut into the Panther deficit. Morton College dominated at getting to the rim and the free throw line, which helped them maintain their double-digit advantage. The Panthers were 20-for-23 from the charity stripe, which is a tremendous path toward victory over the elite competition.
"Even though not every shot goes in, I've always been taught that I can still look for my driving game. As this tough schedule continues, hitting shots and getting to the basket will take us a long way against future opponents," Evans said.
Overall, we saw five reach double figures in the impressive victory. Jovanna Martinucci posted a season-high and tied a career-high with 11 points.
"I'm really excited about the challenge that we have in our upcoming games. I think it will be a great opportunity for us to learn and grow as a team," Martinucci said.
The depth and ability of several Panthers to tally points in the box score make it challenging for opposing teams to defend them.
Having not one but three stars doesn't hurt, either. Simpson, Hyde, and Evans all reached double figures yet again. The three have safely reached double figures in every game this season as the No. 2 Panthers have started 6-0.
Simpson was shutout in the first half, and Evans only had one point, yet the Panthers had a commanding 38-20 lead.
Hyde was on fire from three-point territory in the first half, connecting on three in the opening quarter. Hyde's 15 points in the first half helped pad their lead, but the 10 points off the bench by Martinucci were significant.
Starting guard Jalyssa Carrasco has been an unheralded star on the team for the past two seasons. She often plays lockdown defense toward the top of the key and is the first to get a loose basketball on the floor.
A solid three-point shooter in her own right, Carrasco knocked down a pair of outside shots in the opening quarter and tacked on 8 of her 12 points in the first half.
Simpson and Evans took over from a scoring standpoint in the second half. They combined for an impressive 26 out of the 43 team points. Anybody can seemingly reach double figures on the team, but the team is tough to limit when they are getting to the basket and having opportunities to convert at the free-throw line.
The ability to control the interior or the paint against a defense with different guards allows the offense to get into rhythm. The Panthers are off on Thanksgiving weekend but will host Governors State (JV) next Tuesday at 5:00 pm.
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