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Second-half rally puts Meadows in MSL East lead

It's been three years since the Rolling Meadows girls basketball won a Mid-Suburban East championship.

After Thursday's night's come-from-behind 53-44 win over Prospect at the Jean Walker Field House, the Mustangs find themselves back on top in the division they won from 2012 to 2014.

In a match featuring a pair for 3-0 East teams, Meadows used a 14-0 run early in the third quarter to grab a 38-28 and never looked back in the first game of a boys-girls doubleheader in Mt. Prospect.

The victory put the Mustangs (9-4, 4-0) one game in front of the Knights (7-3, 3-1) with six to play.

"Our goal is always to win the East and hopefully play in the league championship game," said sophomore forward Susannah Holifield, who pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds with 7 points. "I think this helped us move in that direction."

The Mustangs' defense and rebounding helped move them in the right direction in the final two quarters.

A 3-pointer by Alabama-Birmingham recruit Emily Frasco (15 points) gave the hosts a 28-24 lead with 7:23 left in the third quarter.

But the Mustangs answered right back with a fastbreak layup by junior guard Alexis Davis that started the 14-0 burst which included the Mustangs forcing 3 turnovers.

"It all starts with our defense," said Davis (6 points), who had a couple of key steals. "We had to know what we were doing and I think we executed it. We played good team defense, and we talked and communicated well."

Davis made an nice assist to classmate Lily Griefenstein (game-high 17 points), who capped the 14-0 rally with a layup and 38-28 cushion with 3:28 left in the period.

Frasco then drove the baseline and converted reverse layin to end the Knights' scoring drought.

"At the start of the second half after we'd get the ball across half court on their press we got little flustered," said Prospect coach Gabriella Lovin. "We just need to stay composed after we break the press and I think that is what we will learn from this game."

The Knights made one late push to get within 5 points.

A layup by Sara Biesterfeldt followed by two more from Frasco made it 47-42 with 1:53 left in the game.

But Meadows senior guard Melissa Spiwak made a big half circle drive, starting in front of the Mustangs bench, and made the layup to ignite a game-ending 6-2 run.

Spiwak (12 points) also hit 2 free throws in the run which ended with a layup at the buzzer by sophomore Bridget Rolla (11 points).

"That's what you need from a senior point guard (Spiwak) - some toughness," said Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky. "You need someone who wants the ball down the stretch. Melissa continues to show composure in that role."

Rolla added 9 rebounds for Meadows followed by Griefenstein (6) and senior Caili Hosler (6).

"Our kids became a little tougher in the second half," said Kirkorsky, whose team trailed by as much as 17-11 in the first half. "They did what we asked in terms of getting to rim early in the game but didn't finish a lot. Credit to Prospect for its quickness in the lane. But I think we were a little more confident finishing in the second half."

Holifield was confident on the boards.

"The last two games Susannah has brought the elements that we really need on this team," Kirkorsky added. "She's shown toughness and has a great knack for going are the ball.

"Alexis' (Davis) defense really set the tone for us on our press and man-to-man defense. She was the one who really started things for us on defense."

"We started working as a team on defense and that helped us win this game," Holifield added "We weren't working as well as a team in the first half."

Frasco's work was limited near the end of the third and fourth quarters.

"She had really bad calf cramps," Lovin said. "And that's always unfortunate to lose a player like that. But I think it shows how positive we were, trying to stay in it throughout the game."

Biesterfeldt (two big 3-pointers in the first half) also scored 13 points for Prospect while Ashley Adams added 7 and Jessica Kowalczyk 5.

"I think everyone on this team has the ability to make an impact and many did that in this game," Lovin said. "These girls will continue to fight throughout the season. That's what these girls are all about. They're frustrated abut the loss and that's understandable. But we'll go and learn from it."

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