By: Patrick Louer
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - The Keuka Wolves came into Friday night winless in the Empire 8. They desperately wanted to change that. However, junior guard Stephanie Jean-Baptiste would take matters into her own hands.
With 10 points apiece in both halves, Jean-Baptiste was a consistent factor for the Golden Eagles leading Brockport to an 82-42 win.
After trailing 23-3, Wolves head coach Paige Emborsky called timeout to talk things over. Keuka came out firing on all cylinders, going on a 4-0 run at the end of the first quarter. Junior guard Mary Cotter knocked down one of her four threes in the first 10 minutes of action. She ended the night with 17 points, a team-high.
Keuka would pick up where they left off, using a 6-0 run with two more Cotter threes to fuel a 6-0 run. This would contribute to outscoring Brockport 16-12 in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 35-23 at halftime.
At the intermission, Brockport head coach Corinne Jones approached motivating her team in an innovative way.
"Just about playing our way, we shouldn't be turning over the ball," Jones said. "I just kind of challenged them in kind of a mom disapointment way,"
Two forced turnovers to start the third quarter was a product of a Jones halftime pep-talk as she leaned on her starters early. Graduate transfer Kaileigh Hunt eclipsed double-digit points with a lefty jump-hook on the right block, where she made a living. Hunt finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Jean-Baptiste provided timely buckets for Brockport, but also tallied her season-high in assists with six. The Jersey City product was unstoppable in all facets of the game.
"That's my game, I prefer to pass first," Baptiste said. "I prefer to pass first and let it flow, let the points come to me."
Freshman guard Peyton Maneri paired perfectly in the backcourt with Jean-Baptiste. Maneri remains extremly active on both sides of the ball, finishing with 13 points and three assists. The freshman also stole the ball four times, leading to 19 points off turnovers for the Golden Eagles in the second half.
The Brockport bench would help to break this game open, led by senior guard Harmony Philo's eight points which included two threes. The Golden Eagle bench would go on to score 16 points in the second half.
Brockport also got great contributions from freshman forwards Claire Turner and Leah Thompson. The two combined for 13 rebounds were tasked in covering sophomore standout Brooke Burd, who leads the Empire 8 in rebounds. The freshman tandem held Burd to six points and nine rebounds, one below her season average (10.1).
Senior guard Cam Tooley was also everywhere for Brockport. Despite tallying only two points, Tooley continues to control the game for the Golden Eagles. She finished with five rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals.
"I was proud of our second half," Jones said.
Brockport moves to 10-0 in conference and 17-2 overall. They've yet to lose at home. The Golden Eagles retake the court tomorrow against Elmira. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
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