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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotty Sports Corner: Basketball, Swimming, Win Big

By Kelly Proctor '02
Special Correspondent

 Tappahannock (February 4, 2002) - In recent competitions at St. Margaret's School, the Scotty scoreboard reflected months of hard training. Basketball posted some big wins, while swimming left the competition high and dry. Athletes and coaches alike plan to build on these victories as the winter sports season comes to a close.

St. Margaret's School 2002 Varsity Basketball Team Photo left: - The St. Margaret's School 2002 Varsity Basketball Team. Front row: Co-captain Fola Ogundiran, Coach Sue Saunders, Co-Captain Kristina Bethea. Second row: Manager Madison Barkley of Hague, Brittany Alexander, Blair Fisher of Lottsburg, Julie Srebro, Manager Evita Moody. Third row: Becky Clark of Lively, Jennifer Stuart, Robin Ridderhof. Back row: Lindsay Neist of Tappahannock, Juliane Kelly, Ali Hord.

Program Basketball: St. Margaret's varsity basketball team kept up the momentum with victories over two larger Richmond rivals. The Scotties defeated St. Catherine's 40-29 at home on Thursday, January 24. The Scotties led in every quarter, thanks to a triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) by Senior Co-Captain Kristina Bethea. Jennifer Stuart scored a career-high 8 points and sophomore Blair Fisher of Lottsburg chipped in 7.

The score was closer; in fact, St. Margaret's was behind in the first three quarters. But the outcome was the same when SMS faced the Steward School in Richmond on January 22. High scorer Bethea led SMS with 14 points, followed by Brittany Alexander with 8, en route to a 33-30 Scotty victory.

Things didn't go as smoothly on the second day of the Scotties' three-day stand. Playing St. Gertrude's JV at home on Wednesday, January 23, St. Margaret's lost, 31-52. Bright spots were provided by Fisher, the high scorer with 13 points, and Bethea, who racked up a double-double (14 rebounds, 13 assists).

The basketball Scotties now are 4-8 overall and 1-5 in the League of Independent Schools. St. Margaret's plays Christchurch away on February 6 to wrap up the season.

Program Swimming: St. Margaret's swimmers scrimmaged with the Christchurch girls' swim team on Tuesday, January 22. The Scotties dominated the match with eight first-place finishes to post a final score of 48-34.

Making a splash for SMS were Mary Andrews, who won the 50-yard freestyle in 27.93 and the 100-yard freestyle in 1:07.45; Merritt Allaun, who took the 200-yard freestyle in 2:43.23; and Tappahannock's Margaret Moncure, who placed second in the "50 free" with a time of 29:94. The Scotty 400-yard freestyle relay team of Andrews, McMullan, Moncure and Mary Elizabeth McDowell bested the Seahorses by almost a minute. New Zealand exchange student Fifi McMullan, swimming in her last meet for St. Margaret's, clocked outstanding times of 2:21.73 in the 200-yard individual medley and 1:02.02 in the 100-yard butterfly to win both events.

The swimming Scotties close out the season at the state championships on February 1 and 2.

Program Soccer: St. Margaret's varsity soccer team played Virginia Episcopal School of Lynchburg on Friday, January 25 at home. The Scotties successfully held off the competition in the first half, thanks to the quick footwork of SMS defender Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross. Although the SMS offense took run after run at the VES goal, they couldn't make that much-needed score. The game got away from the Scotties after VES scored its first goal on a penalty kick at the beginning of the second half. A second VES goal led to the 0-2 conclusion.

"We played well, and we really outplayed them," said Head Coach Rodney Watkins of Tappahannock. "It's too bad the score can't reflect that."

The soccer Scotties play VES away on Wednesday, February 6, and St. Anne's- Belfield at home on February 8 before advancing to tournament play.



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