Bethlehem Catholic’s girls’ basketball team overcame a slow start and a nine-point deficit early in the second quarter to clinch a 61-48 victory over Freedom last Tuesday night at Becahi.

“There’s been a little rivalry between both our teams in the past few years, so I knew they were going to bring their A game, and we practiced the day before how to defend against them, so we were prepared and knew we were going to get their best,” said Becahi senior guard Taliyah Medina.

Overthrown passes by both teams in the first minute of play were understandable for the first EPC game and the first rivalry game of the season, but the Patriots were first to settle in, led in scoring by Kailey Turpening who had three consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter.

When Becahi guard Jaleesa Lanier hit a three early in the second, fellow Hawks Stephanie Donato, Kourtney Wilson, and Abby Brown added six more points to tie the game 15-15.

With a 24-17 lead at halftime, the Hawks, who had already stepped up their defense, committed nine fouls in the third quarter, creating an opening for the Patriots, who scored 10 points on free throws.

“We’re a defensive-based team so we know to expect the fouls to be called,” said Medina. “We didn’t want all those fouls to be called but it gave them a chance to get back in the game. Once we started playing smart, that’s when we started to break away.”

Wilson hit a three pointer to open the fourth quarter, and Lanier was fouled, converting both free throws. Brown made a three-point play, and Wilson scored twice, the second time on a steal before Freedom called a timeout at 5:42.

“I think that was a turning point because we were kind of cold in the beginning so once we get hot, that’s when we keep going,” Wilson said.

After the Patriots’ timeout, Wilson, who was the game’s top scorer along with Turpening, scored again.

“It was because of my teammates. They were passing the ball, they were doing stuff to get me open,” Wilson said. “[Coming back] gives us more confidence than we already had.”