Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

Lexington (10-2, 9-1 Middlesex League) arrived at Melrose's (11-0) Stoneham home away from home looking to spring an upset, and keep from falling two games behind in the Middlesex League race. Lexington came in ranked at fifteen in the Boston Globe poll. They got off to a good start by scoring the game's first hoop, and watched Sheylani Peddy depart with her second foul at the 2:05 mark. Unfortunately for them, it was all downhill from there, as Lynley DeAmato tied the score with a baseline drive and then fired in a trey from behind the arc, launching Melrose to a 29-17 halftime lead. Meghan Kirwan played solid defense off the bench and chipped in with a pair of steals to help propel Melrose into the lead, along with 9 first half points from Lynley. Lexington was not helped by an ankle injury to Center Jess Igoe late in the first frame. Igoe was unable to return.

Lexington was able to close to within ten early in the second half, but Melrose's inside presence, coupled with solid ball movement, and Sheylani Peddy turned it into a rout, with Melrose closing out the Minutewomen 57-36.

Karen and Paula Sen led the Lady Raiders with 14 points apiece, Lynley DeAmato had 13, and Shey fired in 9 second half points.

Raider Notes: Coach Dave Brady chalks up Melrose win number 195 with the victory, and Melrose takes a two game lead over Lexington in the Middlesex League, with seven league games remaining.

In the 'polling place', the Boston Globe has Melrose at 3, www.t25v.com ranks Melrose 2nd behind Andover, and the Boston Herald clocks the Lady Raiders at 6, behind Braintree, Andover, Case, Central Catholic, and Lowell.