AMESVILLE — The visiting Curwensville Area High School girls basketball team outscored Moshannon Valley 31-13 in the second and third quarters and triumphed 50-30 in Moshannon Valley League action Thursday night.
Ciara Strickland poured in 23 points and Christine Limbert contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Lady Tide improved to 7-3 while moving a half-game ahead of West Branch at 3-0 in the MVL.
Both teams started slowly and were knotted 6-6 at the first rest stop.
Then, the Lady Tide offense began to find the range, especially Strickland.
The senior guard scored 19 points in the middle 16 minutes as Curwensville grabbed a 21-13 halftime lead and stretched the margin to 37-19 going to the fourth quarter.
“We kind of relaxed and got more comfortable with our shooting,” Lady Tide coach Rusty McCracken said. “We just couldn’t get into a rhythm in the first quarter.”
Strickland fouled out with 3:35 remaining, so Curwensville had to rely on three reserves the rest of the way, for Shauna Guy had picked up her fifth foul midway through the third period and Hannah Dixon was sidelined because of an ankle injury.
“We had bench personnel in there doing what we asked from them and needed from them, which is a good indication where they are going,” McCracken said.
Kayli Sedgwick got the start in Dixon’s absence and responded with six points. Camryn Richards hauled in nine rebounds and hit two free throws in a little over 12 minutes. And Nicole Wormuth filled in for Strickland.
Limbert and Thorp tallied five and four points, respectively, to help the Lady Tide maintain their big lead in the fourth quarter.
Thorp also had eight rebounds and 12 assists.
“She’d rather pass than shoot,” McCracken said. “That’s her forte.”
Hannah Kitko netted 10 points for the Damsels, who were held to eight field goals and seven points or less in each of the first three quarters in falling to 4-7.
“The defensive side of things was pretty special,” McCracken said.
Moshannon Valley’s junior varsity won the prelim 31-10.
Curwensville is booked for three games next week, home against Ridgway Tuesday and Harmony Thursday and at Brockway Friday.
Moshannon Valley League — Curwensville 3-0, West Branch 3-1, Moshannon Valley 2-3, Glendale 1-2, Harmony 0-3.
CURWENSVILLE — 50
Heather Thorp 2 0-4 4, Christine Limbert 5 1-2 11, Ciara Strickland 8 6-6 23, Shauna Guy 2 0-0 4, Kayli Sedgwick 3 0-0 6, Camryn Richards 0 2-2 2, Nicole Wormuth 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 20 9-14 50.
MOSHANNON VALLEY — 30
Hannah Kitko 3 4-6 10, Ally Kronenwetter 2 2-4 6, Emily Smith 0 2-2 2, Haley Stodart 0 5-8 5, Emily Kolesar 1 1-2 3, Samantha Matchock 1 0-0 2, Reese Harlow 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 8 14-22 30.
Three-Point Field Goals – Curwensville 1 (Strickland).
Score by Quarters
Curwensville 6 15 16 13 – 50
Moshannon Valley 6 7 6 11 – 30
Lady Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/08 | MO VALLEY | 61 – 45 | 1 – 0 |
| 12/09 | BROCKWAY | 67 – 46 | 2 – 0 |
| 12/12 | @ Ridgway | 42 – 36 | 3 – 0 |
| 12/19 | @ Kane | 46 – 51 | 3 – 1 |
| 12/29 | @ Clearfield | 66 – 40 | 4 – 1 |
| 01/02 | DUBOIS CENTRAL | 30 – 40 | 4 – 2 |
| 01/05 | WEST BRANCH | 58 – 37 | 5 – 2 |
| 01/06 | @ Johnsonburg | 60 – 47 | 6 – 2 |
| 01/08 | HARMONY | ppd. | 6 – 2 |
| 01/13 | @ Elk County Catholic | 25 – 52 | 6 – 3 |
| 01/15 | @ Mo Valley | 50 – 30 | 7 – 3 |
| 01/20 | RIDGWAY | ||
| 01/23 | @ Brockway | ||
| 01/26 | @ DuBois Central | ||
| 01/28 | GLENDALE | ||
| 01/30 | JOHNSONBURG | ||
| 02/03 | @ Sheffield | ||
| 02/04 | @ Glendale | ||
| 02/06 | KANE | ||
| 02/09 | @ Harmony | ||
| 02/11 | @ West Branch | ||
| 02/13 | CLEARFIELD |