Sagay Lead MCC to 61-54 Victory with 21 Points and 28 Rebounds

MANCHESTER – Ericka Sagay (Bloomfield) scored 21 points and pulled down 28 rebounds as Manchester Community College (13-1) beat previously undefeated Navy Academy Prep 61-54 Thursday night at Great Path Academy gym.

MCC trailed Navy (6-1) 33-30 at the half and took the lead for good with 15 minutes left in regulation. Navy’s Chloe Stapleton led all scorers with 25 points including six three-pointers. Stapleton had helped the Rams build a 23-11 lead with three from outside the arc in the first six minutes of the game.

“I think the players changed their attitudes,” head coach Robert Turner Jr said of his team’s comeback. “They played with a little more toughness, a little more mental toughness and I think they wanted it more.”

Sagay turned in her second consecutive 20 rebound game and was the difference in MCC’s first close game of the season.

“She had a monster game,” assistant coach Peter Harris of Sagay, who came into the game averaging 11.4 rebounds and 15.4 points. “She was more aggressive on both ends of the court. We put her in a position where she can use her speed.”

Sagay had 13 offensive rebounds, 15 defensive and four blocks while playing all 40 minutes.

Jazlynn Canino (East Hartford) had 12 points and made a huge difference with eight rebounds, including several down the stretch with several key rebounds.

“She had a lot of open jump shots, a lot of rebounds and played a lot of tough defense, making it difficult for them to score inside,” Turner said of the 6’2” sophomore.

“I think the players changed their attitudes,” head coach Robert Turner Jr said of his team’s comeback. “They played with a little more toughness, a little more mental toughness and I think they wanted it more.”

MCC will host Trois Rivières (Quebec) at noon on Saturday in a game that was added to the schedule in late December.

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