Girls’ Basketball

Norwich 65, Windsor 54

NORWICH – Norwich played perhaps its best half of the season, and weathered Windsor’s comeback effort to post its second straight win on Friday night.

Norwich (5-4) allowed just one field goal in the first period, while Bryn Loomis scored eight points as Norwich led 15-3 at the start. The lead grew to as many as 23 points in the second quarter behind back-to-back three balls from Hannah Runyon and Molly DeMellier. “We did a good job of being patient and taking what the defense was giving us,” said Norwich coach Josh Bennett said of his club’s quick beginning.

Windsor used a full-court press throughout the second half, and were as close as 54-47 with two minutes left. Runyon was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to finish with 23 points, and Loomis was 7-for-8 from the foul line in the last eight minutes winding up with a career-high 19 points.

Windsor’s Amy Goetz had 15 points in the last three minutes of game – 12 on four straight three-pointers – to keep her team in the hunt. “We played smart and played hard on defense,” Bennett said, adding that his team did a good job making free throws late in the game.