VICTOR, N.Y. — Ellie Bergin finished with 15 points, and No. 1 Pittsford Sutherland survived a second-half run to defeat No. 12 Our Lady of Mercy, 45-38 in Class A action, Monday night.
After leading 21-12 at halftime, Bergin’s basket early in the fourth quarter gave Sutherland a 31-29 lead. The Knights then converted eight free throws and closed the game on an 11-2 run to pull away late.
Sutherland (19-3) will face No. 2 Canandaigua in Saturday’s Class A final at Rush-Henrietta.
The game was a hard-nosed defensive battle from the beginning with both teams finding open looks to be difficult. The first quarter was played within a one or two-possession margin with Sutherland gaining a 12-8 advantage by quarter’s end. Bergin and Leora Cook scored four points apiece in the opening quarter for the Knights.
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Sutherland’s full-court pressure forced a number of turnovers. The Knights took advantage, and Lucy Bush scored six in a 7-0 run to start the second quarter.
Mercy responded as Audrey Hintz scored the next four points as part of her 15 on the night.
Natalie Casalle and Brooke Wormley connected on a 3-pointer apiece to power a 10-2 Mercy run early in the third quarter as the Monarchs pulled within three at 25-22. Sutherland scored the next four points before Wormley drained another three-pointer to end the quarter at 29-25, advantage Knights.
Casale and Krista Harnischfeger sandwiched a basket from Bergin early in the fourth to pull the Monarchs within two.
It was as close as Mercy would get for the remainder of the contest.
On the night, Sutherland made 16-of-31 from the free throw line. Cook converted 5-of-6.
Sutherland has held its last three opponents under 40 points. The Knights limited opposing offenses to 43.8 points per game during the regular season.
Cecelia Peinado Caluo (9), Cook (7), Bush (6), Eden Lewis (5) and Cailtlin Bergen (3) rounded out the scoring for Sutherland.
Wormley finished with six and Casale had five points for the Monarchs (10-13). Anna Lynch (4), Mia Lusardi (4), Harnischfeger (2) and Olivia Luchetti (2) also scored for Mercy.
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