Thunderbirds subdue Lady Highlanders, 45-36

WINSTED — It took three periods of bench-gripping, lead-changing basketball before the North Branford Thunderbirds were able to pull ahead of the Northwestern Highlanders to take a 45-36 CIAC victory Tuesday, March 2.

North Branford’s offense was potent right from the tip-off, getting the Highlanders out of position then finding openings down low to put quick scoring plays together. Northwestern’s Morgan Jensen tied the game up late in the first with her strong work at the foul line, but giving up a foul of her own allowed North Branford to take a slight 9-8 lead into the second.

The Thunderbirds’ aggressive defense kept the Highlanders stumbling early in the second while their offensive zone rebound control allowed North Branford plenty of good looks. Northwestern saw momentum swing back their way late in the quarter and managed to pull ahead by one heading into the halftime break, 21-20.

Northwestern and North Branford exchanged the lead back and forth through the second half, but a late-game effort allowed the Thunderbirds to pull ahead slowly. The Highlanders began to have trouble finishing their offensive drives and kept giving up second and third chances to the Thunderbirds in their own end. Desperate to regain possession and cut away at the gap, the Highlanders began taking fouls by the bunches, allowing North Branford to control the pace of the game and take the win, 45-36.

Highlander Kaci Seibert led her team in scoring with 10 points, six of which came from successful three-point efforts. Northwestern’s Morgan Jensen fell in just behind with eight points of her own.

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