The young Gladiator squad is fun to watch since they rely on contributions from their Freshman all the way up to the Seniors. However, the Lady Gladiators had their hands full with a confident Rice squad that had 8-points on the board before Italy’s Becca DeMoss put in a 3-point bucket with 3:19 left in the first quarter. DeMoss followed that with strong defense getting pressure on a Rice shooter but the rebound was gathered by Rice and a shooting foul put them on the line. Rice went 1 for 2 and now led 9-3.

A couple of trips went back and forth when a DeMoss steal gets quickly wiped as Rice defender forces a charging call against DeMoss. Rice takes advantage and lays it in for an 11-3 lead at the 2:00 mark in the first. Rice’s next possession earned 2 more points when a shot from the left elbow swished through giving the Lady Bulldogs a 13-3 lead. After a patient offensive set for Rice, they would score once more on a bank shot in the lane with the first period ending 15-3.

DeMoss tried to rally her Italy squad early in the second period wth on-the-ball defense but the deflection bounced to Rice who earned 3-points the old fashion way, by making the layup, getting the foul call and scoring the free throw. Now 18-3, Rice kept scoring quickly by hitting an open 3-point shot and then hitting 1 of 2 from the free throw line after being fouled on a drive to the basket.

Rice now had a 24-3 advantage when Italy’s Jimisha Reed made her own fast break and dribbled all the way down for a banker making the score 24-5. DeMoss released another 3-point bomb and the score was now 24-8 as Italy was trying to battle back into the game. A couple of trips later DeMoss gets the ball into Reed who earned a shooting foul but missed the first and when the second bounced out Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa dives in the paint to tie up the ball. Italy was unable to score on the inbound and Reed has to sit after picking up her third foul.

Rice scored 3 more points before Italy’s Blanca Figueroa scored off a missed shot making the score 27-10 with 3:15 left in the half. Rice would score 6 more points before the break. Italy’s DeMoss went 1 of 2 from the free throw line and the halftime score showed Rice leading 33-11 as the half ended.

Italy started the third period strong with DeMoss working hard for 2-points in the paint. Italy’s Megan Richards netted one from the left elbow to make the score 33-15. Rice didn’t score until the 5:15 mark of the third but scored 10 straight points before DeMoss had enough of that and took it hard to the glass for 2-points, making the score 43-17 with 1:23 left in the third. Neither side could muster any offense before the period ended.

Italy’s Shay Fleming scored a 2-pointer to start the fourth. Rice then hit a junk shot for 2-points. Italy’s Reed put in 2 free throws as did the Rice squad. DeMoss then ball faked a Rice defender as she stopped and popped in a 2-point jumper making the score 47-25 with 3:17 left in the game.

After 3-points by Rice, Italy’s Richards drills a 3-pointer. Italy’s Figueroa then draws a shooting foul and makes both free throws. Italy’s Reed gets fouled late and banks in 2 free throws to end the contest 50-32 in favor of Rice.

The Lady Gladiators played very hard and competed with class. Coach McDonald has a great group of girls to work with in her first season as Italy’s head coach. The squad is young, but fierce, and it will be fun to watch them grow into champions.

Scoring for Italy:
#5 Becca DeMoss – 13
#40 Jimesha Reed – 8
#22 Megan Richards -5
#21 Blanca Figueroa – 4
#32 Shay Fleming – 2