Strong defensive plays by West Morris sealed yet another win for the Highlanders over the Mount Olive Marauders Thursday night, 48-30. Steals by Julia Scanlon, blocks by Alisa Greco, and rebounds by Shayna Ericksen helped West Morris to dominate.

After a couple turnovers and missed possessions by each team opening up the first quarter, Jess Pool was able to intercept a pass, drive to the basket and bank a layup, while getting fouled, for the initial points of the game.

Missing her foul shot, Ericksen was able to rebound and score another layup. The next play of the game, Scanlon drove down the center key, faked a pass to an outside player, and continued for the layup and one as she was fouled by Mount Olive’s Brittany Gulick.

This allowed the Highlanders to open up the game with a 7-0 run. The Marauders were finally able to get some points on the board when Allison Rolsing was able to drive to the hoop and get a layup. After that, however, Ericksen was able to get two layups off a pass from Greco one time and the other from Scanlon.

It was here that the Highlanders were able to rally off six more points. A couple more layups, some from Tank, others from Greco sealed the score off at 20-8 for the opening quarter.

The next quarter, Latifah Robinson was able to score three foul shots, adding to the Marauders points in the opening minute. Consecutive steals by Mount Olive, one from Robinson and the other from Brianna Zazzaro lit a fire under the Marauders as they tried to get some momentum going.

However, a steal by Scanlon, followed by a behind-the-back dribble and layup from Greco set the tone for the night. Age Orlando was able to hit a three point field goal with about thirty seconds left in the half to end it at 33-12, in favor of the Highlanders.

West Morris dominated the next two quarters. Both Ericksen and Scanlon contributed to the barrage of points with either foul shots or layups. However, Mount Olive’s Robinson and Megan Bublitz added layups in an attempt to get more points on the board.

West Morris stormed back and a foul on Pool while taking a three pointer put her at the line for three shots. Cool as a cucumber, she made all of them, stretching the lead even further. The Highlanders’ tough defense just proved to be too much though as the third quarter ended with a monster block by Scanlon. At the end of the third, the score was 45-21.

Mount Olive’s Gulick played with determination in the last quarter of the game, however. Scoring seven points, she also made a defensive presence in the key, trying to keep any of the

Highlanders from getting to the hoop. Hailey Koop was also an x-factor for West Morris on the other side of the court where she also made some great defense plays.

Defense was all West Morris needed to ease to another victory against the Mount Olive. With the final score being 48-30, the Highlanders move ahead to 11-2, while the Marauders fall to 3-13.