by Dean Raymond

Correspondent

Cuyahoga Falls -- Visiting Stow-Munroe Falls snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 60-47 win over Cuyahoga Falls Jan. 23 in a Northeast Ohio Conference crossover game.

The Lady Black Tigers (5-9) led only twice in the contest at 4-2 and 8-7 before a three-point play from sophomore guard Alex Shaver started a 12-0 run by the Lady Bulldogs (4-10).

Stow led 19-8 with 7:16 remaining in the second quarter.

Shaver scored all 12 of Stow's points in the spurt and finished with a game-high 22 points, including 14 in the first half.

However, Falls rallied back and trailed just 21-20 as sophomore forward/center Logen Breehl converted an inside hook shot with 3:43 left in the second period.

The Lady Bulldogs answered with an 11-0 run, including three-point goals from sophomore guard Kelli Magnani and junior guard Sarah Parsons and led 32-20 at the break.

The Lady Black Tigers got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way at 32-22 (and 55-45) as junior forward Patricia Sagerer laid the ball in with 7:29 to go in the third quarter.

Falls would only score five points in the third period as Stow started to pull away. A pair of free throws by Shaver with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter gave the Lady Bulldogs a 41-23 advantage. Stow would sink 6-of-8 free throws in the third period and led 44-25 after three.

The Lady Black Tigers trailed 46-32 and 48-34 in the fourth quarter as junior guard Cori Martter and senior forward Marina Pelemis would go on to score seven points apiece in the fourth period for Falls.

A layup by Sagerer brought the Black and Gold within 10 points at 55-45 with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter before a triple from senior guard Alex Madonia and a rebound basket by sophomore post Emma Kosmach put Stow comfortably ahead at 60-45 with 54 seconds to go in the game.

"We did a lot of good things out there today," Lady Bulldog head coach Bob Podges said. "Shaver did some incredible things and is very coachable. It was a big concern for our team that we played last night."

Meanwhile, Lady Black Tiger head coach Dennis Wright knew his team could have played better.

"We couldn't do things we needed to do on defense," Wright said. "They [Stow] penetrated well on offense. We had 17 turnovers in the first half and nine more in the second half. That's not a good thing. Stow is better than their record shows. They play a tough schedule."

Sagerer led Falls with nine points, including five in the second period.

The Lady Bulldogs were 22-of-50 from the floor for 44 percent, including 6-of-11 in the second quarter. At the line, Stow swished home 11-of-17 attempts for 65 percent.

The Lady Black Tigers ended up 16-of-47 from the field for 34 percent, including 5-of-8 in the second period and connected on 13-of-19 free throws for 68 percent.

Stow led in three-point goals, 5-2.

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113