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Sports

New Canaan Girls Basketball Holds Off Fairfield Warde

Rams escape with a 41-40 victory after Mustangs nearly erase 11-point deficit

The New Canaan girls basketball team survived a cold shooting night and a late run by Fairfield Warde to escape with a 41-40 victory over the Mustangs on Thursday.

Visiting Fairfield Warde trailed by anywhere from five to 11 points throughout the game until the Mustangs went on their run in the final three minutes.

The Rams' Ellie Wright opened the final quarter with consecutive baskets before Sarah Mannelly's drive gave the Rams an 11-point lead, their biggest in the game.

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But the Mustangs fought back with Kate Kerrigan, Brielle Lanese and Jamera Fountain helping to cut the Rams' lead to 39-38 with 2:45 remaining.

Melissa Tweed ended the Mustangs' surge  when she nailed a mid-range jumper for a three-point lead.  Kerrigan's basket then pulled Warde within 41-40 with two minutes left to play.

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After each team came up short on scoring opportunities, the Mustangs had a chance to win, but they missed from short range with three seconds left.

Tweed thought a late strategy change was the difference in the outcome.

"When we pulled out of our zone in the final few minutes and went man-to-man, we disturbed their rhythm. I think it was the difference tonight," she said.

However, New Canaan coach Kim Palmer didn't think her team's defense was up to par.

"We'll spend significant time working on it before we play Trumbull next week, " she said.  "Sarah didn't have a good shooting night tonight but we won anyway. "Our shot selection needs work too."

Lanese was the game's high scorer with 18 points. Kerrigan was next for Warde with 11, 10 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Mannelly led the Rams with 13 points. She also had eight assists and five rebounds. Kelly Armstrong was New Canaan's rebounding leader with eight.

New Canaan (14-3, 15-4) concludes the regular season at home against undefeated Trumbull (15-0, 16-1) next Wednesday.

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