Posted: Jan 26, 2011
Harris Hits 1,000 in Tough Loss to Hawks
Blue Bell, Pa. - The Montgomery County Community College Mustangs women's basketball team lost a tight game to the Harrisburg Area Community College Hawks Tuesday evening.
The first half of the competition was low scoring for both teams, each of whom missed numerous scoring opportunities resulting in shooting percentages below 40%. The Mustangs were able to go into the locker room with a slight 20-18 lead at half time. Eight of the 20 points came from Mustangs veteran Mercedes Harris, who started the game just 15 points away from her 1,000th career point.
The pace of the game picked up in the second half as the Hawks threatened the Mustangs lead repeatedly, until finally taking the lead for the first time in the match five minutes into play. The Mustangs struggled to regain control of the game. By the 11:00 mark, the Mustangs were down by one at 34-35 and Harris needed only one point to hit her 1,000-point milestone. At 10:00 Harris knocked in a layup to put her team ahead 36-35 and become the first women's basketball player in Mustangs history to notch 1,000 points.
The Mustangs and the Hawks took turns holding a one to three-point lead throughout the rest of the game. Janay Winston scored two crucial baskets in a row for the Mustangs, causing a shift in momentum with 4:00 left. In the final minute of the game, Harris fouled out and Harrisburg was able to take the lead and hold on for a one-point win over the Mustangs.
Harris led the team with a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Winston with 14 points and six rebounds. Mary Grace Lux and Kristy Ragbir also performed well, Lux with nine rebounds and seven points and Ragbir with six of each. Carla Sirak had an outstanding defensive game earning seven rebounds in the competition.
The Mustangs are now 15-5 overall and 11-1 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference.
The first half of the competition was low scoring for both teams, each of whom missed numerous scoring opportunities resulting in shooting percentages below 40%. The Mustangs were able to go into the locker room with a slight 20-18 lead at half time. Eight of the 20 points came from Mustangs veteran Mercedes Harris, who started the game just 15 points away from her 1,000th career point.
The pace of the game picked up in the second half as the Hawks threatened the Mustangs lead repeatedly, until finally taking the lead for the first time in the match five minutes into play. The Mustangs struggled to regain control of the game. By the 11:00 mark, the Mustangs were down by one at 34-35 and Harris needed only one point to hit her 1,000-point milestone. At 10:00 Harris knocked in a layup to put her team ahead 36-35 and become the first women's basketball player in Mustangs history to notch 1,000 points.
The Mustangs and the Hawks took turns holding a one to three-point lead throughout the rest of the game. Janay Winston scored two crucial baskets in a row for the Mustangs, causing a shift in momentum with 4:00 left. In the final minute of the game, Harris fouled out and Harrisburg was able to take the lead and hold on for a one-point win over the Mustangs.
Harris led the team with a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Winston with 14 points and six rebounds. Mary Grace Lux and Kristy Ragbir also performed well, Lux with nine rebounds and seven points and Ragbir with six of each. Carla Sirak had an outstanding defensive game earning seven rebounds in the competition.
The Mustangs are now 15-5 overall and 11-1 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference.