BRIMFIELD, OH- The 4-0 Rootstown Lady Rovers traveled down the road on Monday night to face their rival Field Falcons. It's always a must see when these two teams square off on the hardwood. Rootstown took last season's opener at home over Field 49-45. A big second half by the Rovers would propel them to a 70-48 win.
The Rovers would get off to a fast start in this one as Cloe Bengston scored the first 5 points followed by a Kelsey Bittecuffer bucket that put Rootstown up 7-0 early. They turned up the heat with their ball pressure forcing multiple Field turnovers early on. Abby Harlin would get the Falcons on the board on what appeared to be a three ball, but was changed to two points. The Rovers would push the lead to double digits at 12-2 after a Sasha Nichols basket. Field would score the final 5 points of the quarter as they trailed 12-7 after one.
The Falcons kept it going starting the 2nd quarter on an 8-0 run making it a 13-0 run going back to late in the 1st quarter. That pushed them ahead 15-12 and forced Rovers coach Joe Leonard to call a quick timeout. During the run Delilah Rahe became the schools leading rebounder as play was stopped shortly after to acknowledge her accomplishment. The teams would trade buckets for the next few minutes until Rovers senior guard Addy Germann put them ahead 20-19 on a 3 point shot. She would convert another three late in the 2nd putting them up by 6 before Ally Harlin hit a three for Field to end the half. Rootstown held a slim 26-23 lead at the break. It was a big quarter for Germann hitting three 3's en route to 15 first half points.
The 3rd quarter would decide this one. Germann started it off for Rootstown with another three ball putting them up 6. After a Field bucket, Bengston and Colbie Curall would score back to back pushing the lead to 8. Delilah Rahe converted inside for two and a foul, but could not convert the free throw. The Rovers would take a 13 point lead after a Nichols basket with under four minutes to play in the quarter. The lead stretched to 18 at 52-34 late in the 3rd before the Falcons would score the final 3 points to make it a 52-37 Rover lead after three.
Addy Germann hits one of her six three pointers
Colbie Curall would come out aggressive to start the 4th scoring the first 6 points giving the Rovers a 21 point lead. The Falcons would not get closer than 18 points the rest of the way as the Rovers cruised to a 70-48 road win.
Colbie Curall with the and-one conversion in the 4th quarter
Addy Germann was outstanding scoring 24 points with 6 three balls. Cloe Bengston finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Delilah Rahe had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Falcons.
Field struggled from the free throw line all game going 9/25. The Rovers move to 5-0 on the season while the Falcons drop to 2-2.
Rootstown is back home on Saturday to face Independence while the Falcons look to rebound on Wednesday at Springfield.
Postgame interviews with Addy Germann and coach Joe Leonard.
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