by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Monacan shot just about as good as it can Tuesday night, and Cosby still won.
The Titans, ranked first in the latest DigitalSports Top 10, created enough turnovers and responded at the right times to beat the No. 10 Chiefs 71-59.
Monacan’s Keyla Pullen ran off six straight points to start the second half, then freshman Raven Williams nailed a 3-pointer to slice Cosby’s lead to 43-39 and force a Rachel Mead timeout.
From there, Cosby went on a quick 8-2 run, paced by 3-pointers from unsung players Kaylor Nichols (nine points) and Kelsey Conyers (10).
The lead was 10 points and too tough to overcome with Cosby hitting timely 3-pointers outside, and using their size advantage inside.
Andrea Bertrand poured in a game-high 21 points, 15 came in the second half.
On one possession, Cosby dominated the offensive glass, missing four shots at the basket before Bertrand converted. She had 10 rebounds.
“We got more patient. We started working inside more,” Mead said. “With our size advantage we have to do that.”
Cosby’s Jazmin Pitts (11 boards) had eight of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs scrapped behind Williams to stay close.
Williams had a team-high 20 points, 14 in the second half, including four 3-pointers.
One of her bombs reduced the lead to 11, but Cosby would score right afterward to keep Monacan at bay.
“We tried to play tight man-to-man defense and get a hand in their face,” Bertrand said. “At least it was a little more difficult for them to shoot it. But they still did shoot very well.
“We did have a very well-rounded game. We had some shots inside and shots outside that were falling.”
Becca Wann added 11 points for Cosby, as she battled foul trouble all evening.
Candice Silas had 15 points to help the Chiefs, and Pullen and another freshman Gabby Harris both had 10 points, including three 3-pointers from Harris.
The Chiefs hit eight from distance in the game, but couldn’t halt Cosby enough to pull off the victory.
Monacan 14 16 18 11 – 59
Cosby 19 20 17 15 – 71
Monacan (5-6 Dominion, 9-8): Pullen 10, K. Keys 0, Rainey 4, Williams 20, Harris 10, Backe 0, Johnson 0, Silas 15. Totals: 23 5-7 59. 3-point goals: Williams 4, Harris 3, Silas.
Cosby (9-1, 15-1): Nichols 9, Conyers 10, Wann 11, Lennox 0, Katzman 2, Bertrand 21, Horton 0, Gillespie 0, Pitts 18. Totals: 25 17-26 59. 3-point goals: Nichols 2, Conyers, Wann.
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