WESTMINSTER, Md. – April Sparkman
recorded a game-high 16 points, including the game-winning layup
with 1.2 seconds on the clock to lead 10th-ranked York
(Pa.) to a 59-57 win over McDaniel in non-conference women's
basketball action on Thursday.
Keli Ward added 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven
assists for the Spartans (21-1), who watched a 12-point lead
evaporate but escaped with their 21st straight
win.
Ashley Lyles (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti)
led the Green Terror (12-10) with 18 points while Ali
Moreland (Davidsonville, Md./South River) and Kim
Staub (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) added 15 and 14
points, respectively.
Trailing 41-30 on two Amanda Andrews free throws
with 12:51 to play, Lyles hit a jumper to spark a 13-2 run over the
next nearly five minutes to knot the game at 43-all.
Six straight Staub points capped the burst.
With 5:57 to play, Chanel Perez hit a 17-footer
from the left baseline for her 1,000th career point,
giving York a 45-43 lead.
Staub responded a 3-pointer that bounced home to give McDaniel its
first lead, 46-45.
Lyles extended the lead to three with a layup at the 4:32
mark.
Trailing 50-47, Perez converted a three-point play with 2:43
showing to knot the game.
After a Ward basket-and-foul stretched the lead to 55-52 with 1:14
to play, Lyles hit two free throws with 48.9 seconds showing to
pull the hosts within one.
A Ward 16-foot pull-up with 24.3 seconds on the clock pushed the
lead back to three but Moreland canned a 3-pointer from the right
wing with 8.2 seconds showing to knot the game at 57.
Ward dribbled up court and hit Sparkman with a laser to give the
Spartans the win.
York jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the game's first
3:48.
Trailing 16-8 with 12:06 to play, Lyles and Kara Smith
(Alpharetta, Ga./Northview) hit back-to-back shots to pull
McDaniel within four.
The Spartans stretched the lead to as many as 12 on a Sparkman
3-pointer with 4:53 remaining in the first half but the Green
Terror tallied six of the half's final eight points to pull
within 32-24 at half.
McDaniel returns to action at Washington (Md.) on Saturday. Game
time is 2 p.m.
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