After dropping four games in a row, the women’s basketball team — led by a career-high 27 points from junior guard Allyson DiMagno — overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Dartmouth, 53-45.While neither team shot particularly well from the field — 32 percent for the Red, 36 percent for the Green — it was Cornell’s careful ball handling and effective defense that allowed it to come back and win. The Red forced 17 turnovers, but only coughed up the ball a season-low 10 times.“I thought our team did a fantastic job against Dartmouth’s transition and their penetration,” head coach Dayna Smith said.The win, which was the Red’s first on the road since late January, included a tremendous performance from its leading scorer. Not only were DiMagno’s 27 points the most of her career, but they were also more than half of the team’s total points. DiMagno went 3-for-4 from three-point territory and knocked down eight of her nine free throw attempts. “She just took over in the second half. She was just very hungry for the ball,” Smith said. “[With] the way they played us, she was crashing. She was [also] able to step out on the perimeter.”The Red (12-14, 4-8 Ivy) will conclude its season this weekend when it rematches Dartmouth (6-20, 4-8) and Harvard (17-8, 8-3).According to Smith, the Red is looking to shoot better in the game against the Green on Friday.“We didn’t have a stellar first half shooting-wise,” she said. “We need to do a better job shooting from the perimeter.”After battling the Green, the Red will play the Crimson on Saturday.Cornell’s first game of the season with Harvard was played after a weekend of waiting due to Winter Storm Nemo. The Red excelled in the game on the defense end, executing effective man and zone defenses and forcing the Crimson into overtime when senior Clare Fitzpatrick converted a rebound-put-back to tie the game. In overtime, however, the team turned the ball over too many times and lost the game, 60-69.According to Fitzpatrick, the Red is capable of getting wins this weekend if it continues its careful offense and aggressive defense.“[We need good] transition basketball, rebounding and going and playing intense defense,” Fitzpatrick said.Along with Fitzpatrick, the Red will say goodbye to the seniors, including forward Kristina Danielak and guards Taylor Flynn and Spencer Lane when it completes its senior weekend Saturday.“They’ve done so much in the last four years, and they’re really loved by their teammates,” Smith said. “I’d love for them to go out on a positive note.”
Original Author: Skyler Dale