By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Playing in just her fourth game since returning from injury, Ellie Bergin netted a game-high 37 points including nine in overtime as Pittsford Sutherland defeated host Aquinas, 69-58 in non-league action on Thursday.
Bergin’s bucket off an inbound play capped a late rally as the Knights erased a six-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation.
“It’s great having Ellie Bergin back,” Sutherland head coach Dan Judd said. “She’s not going to let you lose. She’s going to do everything in her power. She’s a winner through and through.”
After Cecilia Peinado Calvo hit a runner in the lane to open overtime, Bergin scored 10 of Sutherland’s next 12 points. The senior guard took a feed from her sister, Caitlin and finished in the lane. She followed with an and-one as the Knights stretched the lead.
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“Today she was her,” said Judd who pointed out that the past couple of games were spent easing Bergin back into the lineup. “Every 50-50 ball is hers. She’s just so damn tough. It’s great having her back.”
Ellie Bergin converts on the sideline inbound play, and we are going to overtime: Sutherland 55 Aquinas 55 pic.twitter.com/mRxi2ix7Mb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 27, 2023
Sutherland’s winning rally capped a game which saw both squads trade dramatic runs.
Bergin connected on a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight as the Knights opened the game on a 15-0 run. Teammate Leora Cook started the second quarter with a baseline jumper, and the lead was still 15 at 23-8.
Aquinas responded with a long-range attack that saw four different players find the range from distance. Julianna Nkugwa buried a pair of triples in the second stanza. Lia Bronco hit two treys and Ajayah Orr added one in third.
Molly O’Toole went the length of floor for a layup to tie the game at 42 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
Molly O’Toole grabs a defensive board, goes the length of the floor finishes. Heading to the fourth tied: Sutherland 42 Aquinas 42 pic.twitter.com/lF93hA68qF
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 27, 2023
“They shoot it great,” Judd said of Aquinas. “Most teams don’t have five players that can shoot it. They’ve got five kids out there that can shoot it.”
Orr opened the fourth with another three, and O’Toole followed her teammate’s lead.
Bronco found Sienna Hinchcliffe in the lane for the Li’l Irish’s largest lead of the night at 52-46.
“They forced us to go small,” Judd said of a late-game lineup change. “Even when they had one kid that wasn’t a great shooter, she’s ball screening, and we can’t switch it because we don’t want to get a big on one their smalls. We couldn’t guard the three-point line, so it forced us to go with five kids on the 3-point line.”
The Knights held Aquinas to one field goal in the four-minute overtime.
Bergin to Bergin: Caitlin leads Ellie. @SutherlandBball 59-55 pic.twitter.com/G0khZmAMRe
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 27, 2023
Ranked 11th in the most recent NYSSWA Class A poll, Sutherland (13-2) won its 10th straight on Thursday.
“Obviously, at first everybody starts to panic,” Bergin said when asked about the late comeback. . “But then we just got to learn to come together, stay calm, cool and collected. With that, good teamwork comes and we’re able to get good shots and get defensive stops.”
Bergin finished with 15 rebounds and a steal. Calvo had nine points, six rebounds and two assists. Eden Lewis had eight points an five rebounds. Bush and Cook added six apiece. Caitlin Bergin had three points, five assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
O’Toole led Aquinas (9-5) with 17 points. Bronco and Orr added 13 apiece. Ngukwa had eight while Hinchcliffe accounted for four. Samiyah Wright converted a free throw. Aquinas (No. 21 NYSSWA Class B) had won eight of 10 games heading into Thursday.
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