VERONA- Basketball is a game of runs, and the Monroe and Verona girls basketball teams each enjoyed their share Tuesday night.
Monroe Cheesemakers put together a couple of runs in the non-conference game, but it was the Wildcats who came out on top 44-33.
The Cheesemakers built a 12-6 lead after one quarter, but the Wildcats went on a 15-2 run to begin the second quarter behind senior Ashley Bartow's nine points.
Monroe regrouped and pulled to within 23-18 at halftime.
The third quarter started out much like the second quarter as Verona went on a 10-0 run to grab a 33-18 lead. But sophomore Vanessa Studer scored seven of her 10 points during the Cheesemakers' 13-4 run that carried into the fourth quarter and brought Monroe to within 37-31.
The Wildcats (12-6) sealed the win by making a 3-point basket and 4 of 5 free throws in the final minutes. Bartow connected on five 3-pointers and led Verona with 20 points
"I was proud of the girls for competing the way they did in the third quarter," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said.
Once Verona got the lead in the second quarter, Monroe had to play from behind the rest of the night.
"When you get the opportunity when it was 37-31, you've got to find a way to close it out," Mathiason said.
Sophomore Taylor Barrett led the Cheesemakers (5-15) with 13 points.
Monroe will host Madison Edgewood for Senior Night on Friday in its final regular-season home game.
Monroe Cheesemakers put together a couple of runs in the non-conference game, but it was the Wildcats who came out on top 44-33.
The Cheesemakers built a 12-6 lead after one quarter, but the Wildcats went on a 15-2 run to begin the second quarter behind senior Ashley Bartow's nine points.
Monroe regrouped and pulled to within 23-18 at halftime.
The third quarter started out much like the second quarter as Verona went on a 10-0 run to grab a 33-18 lead. But sophomore Vanessa Studer scored seven of her 10 points during the Cheesemakers' 13-4 run that carried into the fourth quarter and brought Monroe to within 37-31.
The Wildcats (12-6) sealed the win by making a 3-point basket and 4 of 5 free throws in the final minutes. Bartow connected on five 3-pointers and led Verona with 20 points
"I was proud of the girls for competing the way they did in the third quarter," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said.
Once Verona got the lead in the second quarter, Monroe had to play from behind the rest of the night.
"When you get the opportunity when it was 37-31, you've got to find a way to close it out," Mathiason said.
Sophomore Taylor Barrett led the Cheesemakers (5-15) with 13 points.
Monroe will host Madison Edgewood for Senior Night on Friday in its final regular-season home game.
