Villa Maria caps regular season with easy win over Sacred Heart

MALVERN >> It’s nearly playoff time, so, it should come as no surprise that Villa Maria Academy is rolling.

The Hurricanes dominated in their final game of the regular season Tuesday, with Paige Lauder leading the way with 21 of the Hurricanes’ 41 total points in a 41-24 win over Sacred Heart Academy. 

The game was played in Villa Maria’s typical, and preferred, fast pace.

“We’re a team that likes to play fast; it’s definitely something that suits us,” Lauder said. “It was a game we knew we had to start strong and that our defense was going to win the game.” 

No 3-point shots fell for either side in the game, which also played into Villa Maria’s favor. 

“We are not really a 3-point shooting team,” said coach Kathy McCartney. “We usually have maybe one or two a game so we don’t usually look to shoot the three.” 

What the Hurricanes’ miss out on from beyond the arc, they more than make up for with energy and defense.

Both teams started out hot, with Sacred Heart scoring first, followed by a quick response from Villa with a 6-0 run. 

Sacred Heart coach Zach Shuler immediately called a timeout in order to adjust his team to the Hurricanes’ intense pace.

“We threw in a zone to give our girls a rest and try to slow them down,” Shuler said. 

The Lions responded with a 6-0 run of their own to take the lead before the first quarter ended tied, 10-10. The lack of depth and continued fast pace of play hurt Sacred Heart in the second quarter, as the Lions were outscored 10-4 by the Hurricanes, who “adjusted and played better defense” according to McCartney. 

The third quarter consisted of even more tough defense. Kiera Quigley was a staple on defense for the Lions. 

“Kiera Quigley made it difficult for us to get inside,” Lauder said. 

There were many possessions with limited ball movement for both teams, often ending with a tough contested shot or forced turnover. Each team was only able to score two field goals in the hard-fought quarter, as Villa Maria pushed its lead to 26-19 heading into the final quarter, before pulling away for the 17-point win.

For Sacred Heart, Quigley scored 9 of her 11 points in the second half, followed by point guard Kaylie Doyle who had nine points in the loss. Shuler said the team “played their hearts out and was very proud of their effort.” 

Sacred Heart falls to 12-7 on the season and will be looking to bounce back against Lower Moreland in a nonleague game, as it gets ready for the District 1 Class 2A tournament. 

With the win, The Hurricanes finish the season 17-3 and will host Mount Saint Joseph’s in the playoffs on Saturday. They are facing off for the third time this season; Villa Maria has won the previous two matchups.

Villa Maria 41, Sacred Heart 24

Sacred Heart 10 4 5 5 — 24
Villa Maria 10 10 6 15 — 41

Sacred Heart: Santora 1 0-0 2, Hughes 0 2-2 2, Quigley 5 1-2 11, Doyle 4 1-2 9. Totals 10 4-8 24

Villa Maria: Ryan 2 0-0 4, Warley 1 0-0 2, Walheim 3 4-5 10, Lauder 8 5-5 21, Trebeler 1 0-0 2, Iacone 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 9-10 41

3-point goals: None