Lady Rams win tourney semi

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Emma Lindke (1) puts up a shot against Bennett defender Danyae Barclay during the host Lady Rams tournament semifinal victory this evening.

MIDDLEPORT – Maintaining a lead which ranged from one to eight points throughout the second half, Roy-Hart claimed a 61-55 victory over Bennett this evening in the opening round of the Lady Rams Tip-Off Tournament.

Kendra Hill scored 20, Becky Harnish 17 and Emma Lindke 10 to lead the way for Roy-Hart which now faces Nichols for the tourney championship at 7 p.m. Saturday. Taylor Fry added 8 and Brianna Lewandowski 6 for the Lady Rams.

Nichols downed Tonawanda 50-34 in the other semi.

Roy-Hart jumped out to a 14-3 lead at the outset but Bennett countered with s 15-2 run to rally into an 18-16 lead and the contest was tight the rest of the way.

Roy-Hart regained a 34-26 advantage at the half as Harnish scored six, Hill five and Fry four in the second period.

A bucket by Lewandowski upped the Roy-Hart lead to 38-30 but Bennett came battling back to within one at 38-37 after a three and a jumped by Ryin Moss.

Two quick buckets by Harnish and a jumper by Hill helped Roy-Hart move back out to a 46-40 lead at the three-quarter mark.

A lay-up off a turnover by Hill upped Roy-Hart’s lead to 49-40 early in the fourth quarter. Another lay-up off a turnover and a three by Hill kept the Lady Rams up 54-48 but Bennett again came rallying back to within one at 56-55 after a pair of threes by Moss followed by two buckets by Shabrina Toliver.

Roy-Hart though weathered the storm as the Lady Rams outscored Bennett 5-0 over the final minute on a lay-up by Hill followed by two free throws by Harnish and one by Lindke to put a lock on the victory and a spot in the title contest.

Moss finished with 15 and Toliver 13 for Bennett whose leading scorer was Danyae Barclay with 18.