WOODWARD — Visiting CMB used an 18-6 edge in scoring during the fourth quarter to rally from a seven-point deficit and steal a 41-36 win over Woodward-Granger in the season opener for both teams Friday.
W-G won only three games last season and CMB just two, and both squads were clearly excited for the opportunity to start the 2016-17 campaign on a winning note.
The Raiders held an 8-3 lead after the first quarter, but baskets from Alyssa Bice and Riley Jamison helped the Hawks close their deficit to just a point, at 13-12, after two periods of play.
Poor shooting and turnovers hurt both teams, with the hosts, in particular, plagued by inaccuracy in the first half. W-G did not score from the floor until a Bice bucket nearly 14 minutes into the season, though a Jamison three-pointer moments later helped the hosts trim their disadvantage.
Jamison and Bice each splashed treys and Hansen scored twice on short jumpers as W-G used an 18-10 third quarter run to take a 30-23 lead into the final frame.
CMB scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and took the lead for good, at 33-32, on a Kathleen Baldwin put-back with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Sailor Hinegardner buried a 3-pointer and Brianda Bane made a pair of free throws as the gap swelled to 39-32, but Hansen scored twice in a short span to bring the Hawks to within 39-36.
Unfortunately, the hosts suffered a series of turnovers and missed shots, with a pair of Bane foul shots in the final minute creating the final score.
Sydney Ziesman led CMB with 14 points, with Hinegardner adding nine, Bane eight, Baldwin six and Mikayla Elsinger four.
W-G hit 4-of-14 3-pointers but were just 8-of-29 inside the arc while connecting on only 8-of-22 free throws in the loss.
Hansen led the team with 15 points, with Jamison and Bice adding eight points apiece while Kayley Dresback provided three points and Maggi Mallon two. Bice and Riley Kirton had six rebounds apiece for W-G, with Mallon and Kaitlyn Peters clearing four boards apiece.
The Hawks will now pair with the W-G boys for a series of twin bills. W-G hosts West Central Valley Nov. 29 and Martensdale-St. Marys Dec. 1 before traveling to Des Moines Christian Dec. 2.
