Elizabeth Miller scored 10 of her game-high 25 points in the 4th quarter, leading the New Canaan Rams girls basketball team to a key 53-46 home win over Danbury on Wednesday night.
“The girls came to play,” New Canaan head coach Kim Palmer told NewCanaanite.com. “I’m really proud of where they’ve come from the start of the season until now. There’s been a tremendous amount of growth and the kids are playing well together. I couldn’t be happier for them because they deserve it.”
The Rams jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the 1st quarter as three-point baskets from Miller, Campbell Armstrong and Marina Braccio helped the Rams stretch out the Danbury defense. Katie DeMarino hit both of her shots from the low post, helping New Canaan to its early advantage.
Danbury fought back in the 2nd quarter as Allie Smith and Emily Broggy hit three-pointers to tie the game at 22 heading into halftime.
New Canaan pulled back into the lead in the 3rd quarter as Miller connected on two shots from beyond the arc. Braccio and Kylie Murphy also hit three-pointers in the 3rd as the Rams went up 35-34 heading into the 4th.
New Canaan maintained the lead throughout the 4th as the Rams hit several free throws down the stretch to keep the Hatters at bay. Despite hitting only 10 of 22 shots from the stripe, Miller was able to convert when it counted the most.
“The girls had composure and were in the right places where they’re supposed to be,” Palmer said. “The leadership of our seniors has helped us get to where we are right now.”
With the win—their second in a row—New Canaan improved to 6-7 overall and 5-6 in the FCIAC. The Hatters dropped to 6-6 in conference play and 7-7 overall. With their 6 wins the Rams took a big step toward qualifying for the state playoffs. With a berth just two wins away with seven left to play, Palmer feels the team’s confidence growing as it inches closer to achieving a major goal for the season.
“The girls believe in that and want it and are fighting hard to get there,” Palmer said. “I’m happy for them—they fought hard. This is a good win for us.”
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danbury | 7 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 46 |
| New Canaan | 15 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 53 |
NC - Elizabeth Miller, 25; Marina Braccio, 11; Campbell Armstrong, 8
Danbury - Allie Smith, 12; Emily Broggy, 9; Chloe Henning, 8
Records: Danbury 7-7 (6-6 FCIAC); New Canaan 6-7 (5-6 FCIAC)