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Murdock makes big shots as New Trier edges Maine West

Just four days ago in Arlington Heights, New Trier junior guard Maggie Murdock led the Trevians with 13 points against Hersey, a team that had lost just once all season.

Murdock and her teammates were back in the northwest suburbs on Tuesday night playing another team with just one loss, Maine West.

And Murdock was once again leading the way on offense.

This time, she connected for 15 points in a 45-44 triumph over the Warriors (10-2) in the Central Suburban League crossover in Des Plaines.

She tossed home three 3-pointers but perhaps it was her twin sister Cate's long-range shot that was New Trier's biggest of the game.

New Trier (6-5) led 28-18 at intermission but the Warriors began the second half with a 7-0 run to get to within 28-25 with 3:59 left in the third quarter.

That's when Cate Murdock (6 points) halted the rally by hitting a 3-pointer, allowing the Trevians to go back up by 6 points.

“They made that run at us and Cate hit that big 3-pointer,” said New Trier coach Teri Rodgers, whose team lost 52-43 at Hersey on Saturday. “That was great because it gave us our energy back.”

The Warriors kept their energy as well the rest of the way, and got to within 40-39 when junior Alisa Fallon sank a 16-footer with 4:33 left in the game.

This time, Maggie Murdock got the Trevians back on track by hitting a 3-pointer that made it 43-39.

“They (Maine West) are a really good team,” Maggie Murdock said. “This was really good win for us. I'm really proud of my team. I'm glad we could pull through in a close game like this.”

It got close again when junior guard Allison Pearson drove through the middle for layup to cut the deficit to 43-41 with 3:52 left.

Sophomore Rachel Kent's free throw with 2:15 left got West to within 43-42 but 2 free throws by Maggie Murdock with 26.1 seconds were the difference as New Trier went ahead 45-42.

Pearson, who scored a game-high 18 points with four 3-pointers, drove through the lane and rebounded her own miss to make it 45-44 with 0.3 seconds left.

“I'm really pleased with how hard our kids are playing,” said Rodgers, whose team enjoyed an 11-0 run early in the second quarter to gain its biggest lead at 24-13. “I thought we played hard against Hersey, too.

“I like the resiliency and fight they are showing, it's really fun.”

Maine West coach Kim DeMarigny liked the Warriors' fight in the second half.

“It took us a half to start playing but I liked how the kids responded,” she said. “We just didn't execute well enough down the stretch.”

Fallon finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while Kent had 8 points and 7 rebounds. Junior Gabriela Alvarado had two big buckets for West in the first half.

The Warriors had their share of possessions where two or three shots would not fall.

“It just wasn't meant to be,” DeMarigny said. “It was like someone put a lid on the basket and we forget to take it off. We missed a lot of short shots around the basket. But it will happen. We're young.

“Don't take anything away from New Trier. They were well-prepared and well-coached. They knew it would be a tough game.”

The Warriors caught a tough break when starting guard Catherine Johnson suffered a broken right hand in a win over Deerfield on Dec 2. She is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

“We miss Catherine's rebounding and the floor leadership along with Allison (Pearson),” DeMarigny said. “Our girls are capable. They just have to believe in themselves and we'll get there. This was a good learning experience for us.”

  Maine West's Alisa Fallon tries to maintain control of the ball as she moves past New Trier's Katy Symanietz, left, and Rebecca Goldman during Tuesday's game in Des Plaines. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Maine West's Alisa Fallon, right, and Angela Dugalic block a shot by New Trier's Katy Symanietz during Tuesday's game in Des Plaines. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Maine West's Allison Pearson, left, takes the ball from New Trier's Jacqueline Vinson during Tuesday's game in Des Plaines. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Maine West's Angela Dugalic looks for an open teammate during Tuesday's game against New Trier in Des Plaines. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Maine West's Gabriela Alvarado, left, makes a move toward the basket against New Trier's Jacqueline Vinson during Tuesday's game in Des Plaines. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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