ROCKINGHAM — Following Tuesday’s non-conference basketball game, head coach Taneika Reader explained that a versatile opponent that shot the three-pointer well made it difficult for Richmond Senior High School.
Returning to their home court for the first time in over a week, the Lady Raider varsity basketball team suffered an 84-56 loss to Grace Christian School.
Marking the team’s third consecutive defeat since beginning the season 2-0, Richmond struggled to keep pace with the Lady Crusaders, the reigning NCISAA 3A state champions
In the game, Grace Christian connected on 10 three-pointers, led by Halisi Whitley’s six triples.
Leading the Lady Raiders in scoring was senior point guard Jamyia Lindsey, who finished with 26 points and two of Richmond’s four three-pointers.
Sophomore Madisen Jackson had her jumper in the paint working and finished with eight points. Junior J’Nasia Neal added seven points, while fellow juniors Olivia Brown and Jasiah Gilchrist each had six points. All of Brown’s points came on three-balls in the second half.
Richmond’s scoring was rounded out by two points from senior Quanna Bostic and a free throw from sophomore Kaylan Parsons.
Jackson hit a mid-range jumper to start Richmond’s scoring early in the game. Seven of Lindsey’s nine first-quarter points, along with a Gilchrist transition bucket and an old-fashioned three-point play by Neal made it 14-14.
A 14-4 run in the closing two minutes of the first quarter put Grace Christian ahead 28-18 heading into the second quarter. Scoring for Richmond were Lindsey and Neal, both of whom hit two free throws.
Trailing 37-22 near the midway point of the second quarter, the Lady Raiders rallied with an 11-0 run to cut their deficit to four points.
Gilchrist started the stretch with a transition layup, which was followed by nine consecutive points from Lindsey. She started with a pair of buckets under the rim and finished a drive and the extra opportunity. Lindsey’s final two points came on a putback with 1:45 left in the half.
Starting the second half down 44-33, Richmond saw its deficit grow to as many as 24 points. Six players found the cylinder for the Lady Raiders, led by Lindsey and Brown, who each connected on a three-pointer.
Bostic, Gilchrist and Jackson each contributed a field goal and Parsons made one of her two shots from the line.
As the clock rolled over into the final stanza, Richmond trailed 70-46. Grace Christian closed the game on a 14-10 run.
The Lady Raiders’ final points were triples from Brown and Lindsey, along with two more jumpers from Jackson.
Grace Christian (5-1) was led in scoring by Isa Roman (27 points), Whitley (20 points), Adaora Mogbo (11 points) and Jordan Speller (10 points).
The Lady Raiders (2-3) open Sandhills Athletic Conference play Friday at Southern Lee High School (1-2). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
