The week started and ended with losses, but in between were three feel-good wins for PSA’s girls’ basketball team.
The 77-63 win over Rocky Hill (R.I.) Wednesday was PSA’s first of the year and came after jumping out to an early lead, then hanging on through a second-half lull.
“Winning is hard,” coach Greg Canzater said. “I didn’t expect the first one to come easy. I didn’t expect it to take this long to get the first one either but I’m more than happy to see it happen in our gym.
“We have to play full games, every possession, and continue to do the little things. We’re a young group that’s still coming together but it’s going to be the little things that help us win. I think we did more of that (Wednesday) than we did other nights.”
Carlota Lopez was one of five PSA players to score in double figures, leading the way with 13 points to go with five assists and five steals. Alicia Jimenez finished with 12 points, Kate Lipatova had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Khaya Skene and Alba Granell chipped in 10 points apiece.
“When any of us drive the ball with a purpose and we’re intentional about sharing the basketball, good things happen for us,” Canzater said. “When we did, we hit a ton of shots, made timely 3’s. We finished the job. It wasn’t easy but we finished it.”
Lopez had another strong game the next day, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds, five rebounds, and five steals to a 51-43 win over Ethel Walker. Skene finished with 14 points against her former school, Lipatova added 10 points, and Granell nine points for the Mustangs, who pulled down 19 offensive rebounds.
It was Lopez and Skene again Saturday, as both scored 14 points in a 60-43 win at St. Andrew’s. Tatiana Bell added 11 points and Lipatova finished with 10 for PSA (3-5), which lost at Hamden Hall early last week (Skene had 13 points) and then fell to Raritan Valley CC Sunday at a showcase event in the Bronx, N.Y.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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