Lady Knights Nixed by NAPS 76-70 in OT

12.12.18

Warwick, R.I. – December 12, 2018: The CCRI Lady Knights basketball team hosted the Midshipmen Candidates from the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) Tuesday evening. The Lady Knights lost a hard fought battle with NAPS 76-70 in overtime. With the loss CCRI falls to 3-8 on the season.

The Lady Knights were out to exact revenge upon the Midshipmen Candidates from the game they played on November 8th that saw NAPS emerge victorious 66-54 at NAPS in Newport. The Lady Knights found themselves trailing early in the game as NAPS utilized their superior height to punish CCRI with baskets from the low post. CCRI trailed 20-13 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the Lady Knights outscored NAPS 17-14 to cut their lead to just four points by halftime with the score 34-30. CCRI put forth a balanced attack to keep the Midshipmen Candidates in striking distance. Leading the way for The Lady Knights in the first half was Co-Captain Kat Raposo (Warwick, RI) with seven points while Co-Captain Jada Littlejohn (Providence, RI) and freshman Courtney Dorr (East Providence, RI) added six points apiece.

In the third quarter both teams traded baskets and scored 13 points each keeping the game very close with the score 47-43 Navy Prep. Kat Raposo and Courtney Dorr combined to score nine of the 13 points for the Lady Knights in the third to keep them in the game.

Navy Prep extended their lead early in the in the fourth quarter but the Lady Knights would not go quietly on their home court. However with under a minute left CCRI found themselves trailing by six points 63-57 as Olivia Batastini-Pallister (Providence, RI) drained a 3-pointer cutting the NAPS lead to just three points 63-60 with under a half minute left. The Lady Knights got a crucial stop and tried to set-up a play to tie the game, preferably a 3-pointer. NAPS was playing tremendous perimeter defense but Co-Captain Jada Littlejohn took a tough contested 3-pojnter and was fouled in the process with just 6.7 seconds remaining. With ice water in her veins Littlejohn calmly made all three pressure free throws to tie the game with 6.7. Navy Prep did not score in the closing seconds sending the game to overtime tied 63-63.

As the five minute overtime period started Navy Prep once again jumped out to a quick lead and the Lady Knights had to once again battle their way back into the game. Unfortunately for CCRI their shots were not falling in the extra frame managing only two baskets, one from Olivia Batastini-Pallister and another from Jada Littlejohn who also added three free throws but it was not enough as Navy Prep was able to secure the 76-70 overtime victory.

Leading the way for the Lady Knights was Co-Captain Jada Littlejohn who was tied for team-high with 16 points with 8-11 from the free throw line including the clutch three FT's that sent it to OT while adding a team-high eight assists with eight rebounds and four steals. Littlejohn is having quite a year averaging a double-double with 18.4 points per game and 10.6 rebounds while also adding 4.7 assists per game. Co-Captain Kat Raposo also scored 16 points with five rebounds and three assists and Olivia Batastini-Pallister had 13 points including three 3-pointers with three assists and three rebounds. Rounding out the top performers form CCRI was Courtney Dorr with 11 points including three 3-pointers with four rebounds, three assists and a steal and Co-Captain Waleska Kelly (Pawtucket, RI) added seven points, a team-high nine rebounds with two steals and two blocked shots. Kelly is doing an excellent job protecting the basket and is ranked No. 10 in the nation with 27 total blocked shots and No. 11 in blocks per game with 2.6.

The next game for the Lady Knights will be this Thursday at 6pm when they travel to Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA as part of a doubleheader with the men who will play the Bayhawks at 8pm.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 15,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.