DiGennaro's Late Free Throws Lift Drury over Hampshire

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Brooke DiGennaro hit the game winning free throws with 5 seconds left as Drury defeated Hampshire, 50-49, on Friday night.

 

Hampshire (7-4) took its last lead with 15 seconds when Maggie Rubeck’s conventional three-point play gave the visitors a 49-48 lead, setting the stage for DiGennaro’s heroics.

 

“I thought the difference in the game was our defense against Maddie Pond in the second half,” Drury coach Ian Downey said. “She is such a strong player and going into the game we knew that stopping her would be key to getting back in the win column.

 

“In the first half we didn’t communicate enough and Pond was able to make shots and plays for her teammates. In the second half I thought we did an excellent job communicating where she was and forced other players to make shots. To their credit that had some girls step up in the fourth quarter and hit some big shots.”

 

Pond finished with 17 points -- 13 before half-time.

 

DiGennaro led Drury with 15 points, and Alison Felix added 11. Tess Zoito chipped in with eight.

 

“To beat a top team like Hampshire, who is well coached, is a huge confidence booster for our team,” Downey said. “We are in the middle of the most difficult part of our schedule. We played two Division 2 schools in PHS and Taconic, then Hoosac, and now the defending Western Mass champions in Hampshire.

 

“We played PHS and Taconic tough and got roughed up by Hoosac. I think those games prepared us to be able to go toe-to-toe with a team like Hampshire.”

 

Drury (4-5) hosts Brattleboro, Vt., on Monday.