St. Viator rolls over Leyden

Joy Bergstrom came into the first game of St. Viator's 37th annual Blenner Holiday Classic averaging 19 points per game.

After her sixth 20-plus scoring game on Thursday night, not only did Bergstrom's average climb, so did the Lions' total wins.

The sophomore guard's 24 points led the way to the Viator's third triumph of the season as it opened its eight-team tournament with a 52-29 triumph over Leyden.

"Before the game we said in the locker room that the first game definitely defines the tournament for us," Bergstrom said. "So this is definitely a good start."

Bergstrom helped the Lions' start in the first half when she hit her first of three 3-pointers from the top of the arc to give Viator (3-6) the lead for good at 8-6.

Bergstrom's shot triggered a 14-2 run from which Leyden (2-8) never recovered.

The rally included a steal and layup by her classmate Nora Ahram, a fastbreak layup by freshman Louisa Battin and another 3-pointer and 2 free throws from Bergstrom.

"She's (Bergstrom) pretty hard to guard," said Leyden coach Stephanie Kuzmanic. "She's tough. She's a good player."

Ahram finished with 9 points for the Lions while junior Caroline Sexton had 7.

"It was a good way for us to start out," Ahram said. ""We wanted to push the tempo and score the basketball in transition."

Ahram scored the game's first basket when she hit a 3-pointer in the first minute.

But a putback by senior Anixa Cisneros and the first of two 3-pointers by classmate Evelyn Abundes put the Eagles in front 5-3.

Junior Keely McClennan's fastbreak layup made it 5-5 before Colmenares' second of two free throws gave Leyden its last lead.

The Eagles missed 9 free throws in the first half and Viator was able to pull away to 23-10 cushion at intermission.

"It's hard when you're down by 13 at half after missing 9 free throws," Kuzmanic said. "We just have to clean up those little things on both ends of the floor and we'll be in a better position the rest of the tournament."

Colmenares and Cisneros led the Eagles with 7 points apiece while Abundes added 6.

"We did some things better this game," Kuzmanic said. "I thought we did a good job running the floor and playing great defense as a team. I thought we executed the offense but we just missed a lot of free throws and layups."