After a 71-49 victory Tuesday over Proviso East, it was only natural for Fenwick sophomore Tricia Liston to be confident.
“I think we’re going to be better than anyone expects us to be,” Liston said. “We hustle a lot, run our sets and I think we’re underestimated this year.”
And, by the way, they score, too. Liston finished with 18 points as did fellow soph Katlyn Payne in the Niles North tournament game played in Fenwick’s gym.
Underestimated? Well, last season’s Class AA state champion did lose All-Americans like Devereaux Peters and Alison Jackson. But the cupboard isn’t bare for No. 8 Fenwick.
The 6-foot one-inch Liston fit in well as a freshman and now has to help take over the varsity. Fenwick improved to 3-0 not only because of her scoring, but her rebounding as well. She pulled down 16 against the Pirates (3-1).
And then there’s Payne, who transferred after her freshman year at St. Edward. She scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as Fenwick, which led 48-44 after three, outscored the visitors 23-5. She hit two threes in that quarter.
“I think we played as a team more and that really got me going,” said Payne, whose overtime free throws Saturday helped the Friars get by Resurrection.
Serafina Nuzzo added 10 points and freshman Kathleen Roche came off the bench to score seven – all in the final 2:02 of the first half to give the Friars a 33-28 lead at the break.
Robin Giden led the Pirates with 18 while twin sister Miame finished with 14 points and Tiara Perry 13.