Defense and Depth Lead No. 13 Ranked Lady Knights Over WCC 78-46!
12.6.21
Anayah Melgar
Warwick, R.I. – December 6, 2021: The No. 13 ranked (NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Poll) CCRI Lady Knights basketball team hosted the Division II Vikings of Westchester Community College to the Cullen Fieldhouse for a game on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Knights defeated the Vikings 78-46. With the victory CCRI improves to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in Region XXI play.
The Lady Knights knew they had to step their game up a bit as they hosted the Division II Vikings of Westchester Community College on Saturday. CCRI did so with their trademark of defensive intensity and team depth. The Lady Knights took care of business in the first quarter as they had held Westchester to just 11 points until Donjeta Prelvukaj sank a 45-foot buzzer beater to give The Vikings 14 points. The Lady Knights scored 22 in the quarter led by freshman guard Elizabeth Bruno (Providence, RI) scored five points including a 3-pointer and Taylor Enright (West Warwick, RI) who added four points.
In the second quarter the Lady Knights almost shutout Westchester but, you guessed it, Donjeta Prelvukaj, sank a 35-foot 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Nevertheless, the Lady Knights outscored the Vikings 26 -3 in the frame to take a 48-17 lead into halftime. During the quarter CCRI got five points apiece from sophomore guard Jazlynn DiZoglio (Providence, RI), Anayah Melgar (Coventry, RI) and Chloe Rayko (Coventry, RI).
The Lady Knights extended the lead to 41 points by the end of the third quarter with their stellar defense limiting the Vikings to just eight points as they went into the final quarter leading Westchester 66-25.
In the fourth quarter CCRI relaxed the defensive pressure which allowed Westchester to score 21 points while the Lady Knights only scored 12 points but CCRI won the game easily by the final score of 78-46.
Leading the way for the Lady Knights was freshman guard Anayah Melgar with a career-high 14 points including a career-high three 3-pointers. Co-captain Michelle Moreno (Providence, RI) scored 10 points with six rebounds, three assists md three steals. Chloe Rayko added 10 points including two 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Jazlynn DiZoglio added eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go with three assists and a steal. The trio of Kayla Saddler (West Warwick, RI), Co-Captain Talia Thibodeau (Cranston, RI), and Taylor Enright each added seven points apiece and combined for 13 rebounds, five assist, four steals and two blocked shots.
The next game for the Lady Knights will be Tuesday the 7th when they travel to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) in Newport, RI) for a game at 6pm.
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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 10,000 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.