VILLANOVA, PA – Germantown Academy girls’ basketball team opened up Inter Ac League action Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the home of the Fighting Irish. Germantown Academy started the match on a strong note, made its foul shots and eventually came away with a 60-41 victory.
“We were 18-for-19 from the foul line,” said GA senior captain Rachel Balzer. “We ran the ball. We started really strong and ready to play.”
Both teams are especially talented and off to a great start. GA remained undefeated at 8-0 (now 10-0, 1-0 Inter-Ac) with this outcome while Notre Dame dropped its first decision of the 2018-2019 season (now 6-4, 1-1 Inter-Ac). The Irish have all the confidence in the world that it will be a great year.
GA senior captain Rachel Balzer discusses her team's mindset for the season:
ND senior captain Mandy McGurk talks about her team's confidence:
ND vs. GA:
“Coming off of a great season last year, we’re confident going in to the season and we take each game as it comes,” said EA senior captain Emma Kichula. “We have a positive outlook.”
GA wasted no time whatsoever getting down to business on offense in this league opener. Captain Maddie Vizza, Ellie Stauffer and Becca Booth all prevailed during the first quarter and built an 18-5 surplus. Late in the quarter, Notre Dame’s Maggie Pina sank two from the free throw line.
GA increased its lead to 38-15 after the first half but there was plenty of time remaining. Balzer scored first in the second half but Allie Lynch and Pina combined for a 5-0 sprint. Teammates Riley Gillin and captain Mandy McGurk also kept the momentum going on offense before GA’s Jaye Haynes hit a basket for a 54-26 lead going in to the fourth quarter.
Kichula, McGurk and Maeve McErlane combined for a 7-0 run to make the score a little tighter but GA had plenty of energy left. Sarah DiLello hit two foul shots for GA with 1:43 in regulation and Notre Dame’s Caitlyn Mullen scored before the clock expired.
“No matter what the score is we’re playing our hardest and giving 100 percent,” said Kichula.
Leading the way for the Irish were Lynch with 11 points and McGurk who added nine points.
Sharing the ball has also helped GA to be successful in the past and this game against Notre Dame was no exception. With a strong postseason history in place, that is likely to continue this year.
“We share the ball,” said Balzer. “Coming out, we want to win states and win the Inter Ac.”
At this point, Notre Dame and Germantown Academy are all geared up for a strong year in league and non-league play. Both teams know that the Inter Ac League is undoubtedly a competitive one.
Notre Dame will resume league play in the New Year against Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 4. This will be the second league meeting between the two teams this season, as the Irish defeated the Bears 57-32 back on Dec. 13. Germantown Academy’s next league game will be on the road at Episcopal Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 8.