Top-ranked Hamden puts away No. 5 Mercy late

HAMDEN — With the postseason right around the corner, it is only fitting one of the final games of the regular season matched up Mercy and Hamden. Two of the best teams in the Southern Connecticut Conference, each are expected to make a run deep into the postseason.

For three plus quarters, the game lived up to the expectations. Then, the Green Dragons took over.

Going on an 18-6 run, Hamden, the top-ranked team in the GameTimeCT Top 10 poll, defeated fifthranked Mercy 61-47 in an SCC contest at Hamden High School Friday evening.

The Green Dragons improved to 19-0 after topping Mercy for the second time this season. Mercy fell to 14-5 with the loss.

“We have been tested with a tough, tough SCC schedule,” Hamden coach Amanda Forcucci said. “We knew it was going to be a big one tonight. We knew they have a bunch of shooters, and they are hard-nosed on defense. That run was to be expected. They are a good team. We weathered it. I was happy we stuck with it mentally.”

After watching Mercy battle back from a 15-point deficit to get within 34-31 on a bucket by Avery Kohs, Hamden pulled away with an 18-6 run for a 52-37 lead following a 3pointer by Alana Philpotts early in the fourth quarter.

The run effectively ended a brilliant comeback by the Tigers, which saw Mercy get within three points by scoring the first six points of the third quarter, including four by Ava Giansiracusa.

“We seem to have developed a habit of starting slow,” Mercy coach Tim Kohs said. “It is really disappointing. They beat us already once. We need to make a shot or two. We did not rebound well, especially at the free throw line. They shot the ball well. We just have to play better.”

A basket by Philpotts, who finished with 22 points, increased Hamden’s lead to seven, before Giansiracusa brought it back to five for Mercy. The Tigers had opportunities, but they could not convert to get closer.

A basket by Hamden’s Kamora Moore and a 3pointer by Philpotts extended the Hamden lead to 43-33 after three quarters.

“We don’t think about it,” Gianna Donnarummo said of being undefeated. “Every game, we go into it 0-0. We are so focused on the next game. We are not overlooking anyone because anything can happen.”

Any hopes of a Mercy comeback ended when the Green Dragons hit seven free throws and combined those with a bucket by Donnarummo, who finished with 19 points in the game.

“We are just a tough team,” Donnarummo said. “If something happens, withstand it. This year, we just focus on the next play. We are going to have each other’s backs. We just trust each other.”

The first half saw the Green Dragons run out to a quick lead, 12-3 on a 3pointer by Donnarummo, but they never extended the advantage. Mercy chipped away and cut the deficit to nine points at the half.

“That’s what she does,” Forcucci said of Donnarummo. “That’s what she does. She just hits. That’s why we have her.”

Donnarummo was the key for Hamden in the opening half with four 3pointers, including a trey to give the Green Dragons an 18-3 lead late in the first quarter.

Leading by 14, Hamden had opportunities to increase the margin to 20 points, but the Green Dragons could not do so. Mercy responded with four points, a 3-pointer from Giansiracusa, and a bucket by Kate Donlan to get within 24-15.

Donnarummo was at it again as she followed a bucket by Philpotts with another 3-pointer to extend the margin to 29-15.

“I think the way we play, when someone comes at us, we have to go right back at them,” Donnarummo said. “If you come at us, it is okay, next play. The big moment was coming. We know it. We just have to withstand everything.”

Madison Benigni then helped Mercy get back in the contest again with a 7-1 run as she scored five points, including a 3pointer to get the Tigers within eight at 30-22. Mercy closed the half with a 3pointer by Avery Kohs to cut the deficit to 34-25.

“It’s a credit to us, but it is almost a discredit to us that we have to worry about coming back,” Tim Kohs said. “We have to play better from the start and not get yourself in a hole which is almost insurmountable against a team like that.”

Giansiracusa led Mercy with a game-high 24 points. Leah Philpotts added 11 points for the Green Dragons.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Gianna Donnarummo: Hamden junior finished with 19 points, draining four 3-pointers in the first half, to help Hamden to a 15-point lead.

QUOTABLE

“It’s important. It is very important because there are things you can learn in close games, in high-caliber games. We are learning and it is just in time for the postseason.”

— Hamden coach Amanda Forcucci said of playing in tough games before the postseason.

HAMDEN 61, MERCY 47 Mercy .......................... 6 19 8 14 – 47 Hamden ................... 18 16 9 18 – 61 Mercy (14-5): Avery Kohs 1 1 0-0 5; Sophie Hedge 0 1 0-0 3; Ava Giansiracusa 6 2 6-6 24; Mercedes Artmiz 1 0 0-0 2; Melina Ford 0 0 1-5 1; Kate Donlan 2 0 0-0 4; Maddie Benigni 1 1 3-4 8 Totals: 11 4 1019 47

Hamden (19-0): Kamora Moore 2 0 0-0 4; Gianna Donnarummo 1 4 5-8 19; Alana Philpotts 6 2 4-8 22; Leah Philpotts 5 0 1-7 11; Gianna Robert 2 0 1-2 5 Totals 16 6 11-25 61