Generals fall despite career-high from Griffin

(Herkimer's Raven Griffin scores two of her career-high 20 points Tuesday against the Timberwolves).

HERKIMER, NY - The Herkimer Generals women’s basketball team fell 67-65 Tuesday night to SUNY Adirondack despite a career high set by Raven Griffin (Syracuse, NY). She lead the Generals with 20 points, 11 of the 20 coming in the first half.

The entire first half, the Generals and Timberwolves went back and forth, both having leads and being tied with each other. Throughout the first half, there were 11 lead changes between the two teams. SUNY Adirondack had the lead going into the half, 30-29, but the Generals got hot from the field and continued their full court pressure that they had going the entire first half. Because of the full court pressure, the Timberwolves found the press break a few times, but the Generals got a few key steals to keep the game within two.

By the 9:35 mark in the second half, the Timberwolves had a 50-41 lead over the Generals, but as soon as SUNY Adirondack had the lead, it was gone. Herkimer’s Chelsea Jory (Herkimer, NY) buried a three point bucket to bring the lead down to six with 9:09 to go. Then, Emily Rexford (Canton, NY) drew a foul to put her at the line and she hit both of her free throws, and then the next possession Rexford hit a big three pointer to cut the lead to three with 8:31 to go in the second half. The Timberwolves jumped out to a 60-52 lead with jut under 5:00 to go in the game, but on their next possession, the Generals caught a break; Suny Adirondack’s leading scorer for the game, Alexis Smith, who had 26 points, fouled out with 4:38 to go in the game.

With that, the Generals caught fire on the defensive end and from behind the ark, which started an 11-0 run for the Generals. Griffin got the run started by hitting a deep straight away three with 2:13 to go, then Jory got another three to go from the corner. Griffin then called her own number by driving to the bucket and getting the lay up to go with 1:07 left in regulation and SUNY Adirondack hanging on to a 66-62 lead. The Generals then got another stop, and Jory connected with another three point basket to cut the Timberwolves lead to one with 47.6 left. Then the Generals then got a huge turnover with 27.6 left but then had a foul called on them and Adirondack went one of two from the line, giving Herkimer one last chance with 11.4 seconds to go, but then Herkimer turned the ball over and fell 67-65.

The Generals return to action on Saturday, January 17, at 1:00 p.m. as they play host to Schenectady County Community College.

Score:

Adirondack 67, Herkimer 65

ADK (2-9, 1-3) Alexis Smith 26, Emily Major 19, Brittni Sardina 9, Courtney Jenkins 7, Meg McDonough 5 Totals: 26-12-67

HERK (4-9, 1-5) Raven Griffin 20, Chelsea Jory 16, Emily Rexford 14, Alexandra Hardy 10, Kristy Wallace 4, Nicole Doolen 2 Totals: 26-5-65

3-point goals: Generals 7 (Jory 4, Griffin 2, Rexford 1), Timberwolves 0

-Kenny Kudrewicz