By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. Kaysia Jones scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the first half, and host Edison/World of Inquiry (7-7) took a nine-point lead into the break and went on to defeat Rush-Henrietta (4-11), 47-40 in non-league action on Monday.
Jones connected twice from the floor and converted 4-of-6 free throws to stake the Inventors to a 25-16 lead after two quarters of action.
“We know that she is the driving force of our team and has been for a few years,” said Edison/WOIS head coach Brenda Tapper. “What she’s done a really good job of this year is including her teammates in the scoring.”
Edison’s defense also limited Rush-Henrietta to seven field goals in the first half.
“The key to us getting going was our defense,” Tapper said. “We’ve played a couple rough games so far this season. I’ve been telling the girls that our defensive pressure is what’s keeping us in games and giving us opportunities to score.”
Rush-Henrietta’s Kyla Piedici scored seven points to pace a 10-3 second-half run as the Royals Comets pulled within five early in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 33-21, Piedici finished in the lane for two points. The ninth-grade guard followed with another basket, and her 3-pointer before the end of the third made it a 34-28 game heading into the final eight minutes of action.
Estara Roberts-Crawford converted an and-one to cut the deficit to five at 36-31 with 6:58 remaining in the game.
Edison responded with a 9-2 run in which the Inventors converted a pair of turnovers into layups at the other end of the floor.
“It was a matter of staying locked in and knowing who their shooters were,” Tapper said of Edison’s ability to finish the game. “I had them watch film on Friday, so they were to know exactly what Rush was going to run. Then we executed with our defensive pressure. We’ve been doing well on defense.”
Antoinette Cotton added 10 points in the win. Ary’anna Mateo scored eight for the Inventors. Mi’Yah Rodgers had nine.
Piedici led R-H with 13 points. Roberts-Crawford added 12. Leah Taddesse accounted for eight points. Grace Gurung had three. Julianna Goff (2) and Emerson Ornt (2) also scored.
Edison/WOIS will host Padilla on Wednesday for a 4:45 p.m. tip-off.
Rush-Henrietta travels to Gates Chili for a 7:15 p.m game on Tuesday.
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