Timely shooting and a stifling defense helped the girls varsity basketball team win its home opener 53-41 over Miss Porter’s on Dec. 8.

Kaila Richards ’25 led all Bearcats (2-1) with 15 points, and Angel Allen ’24 also scored in double figures with 10, while hauling down 7 rebounds.

Although the rim was tight for both teams, which shot a combined 28% from the field, Hotchkiss seemed to make timely baskets at every point to blunt any comeback from the Daisies, who never got closer than five points after halftime.

One of the major factors contributing to the Hotchkiss win was a swarming defense, which forced Miss Porter’s into 36 turnovers. Hotchkiss also won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 37-33. Jordyn Harrison collected nine rebounds, and Allen, Morgan Jenkins ’25, and Maya Bateau ’24 each had at least six.

At the beginning of the game, the Bearcats jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, forcing Miss Porter’s to call their first timeout. The Daisies then hit two of several clutch threes to tie the game, and the two teams traded baskets to end the quarter with Hotchkiss nursing a narrow 15-12 lead.

In the second, the Bearcats widened their lead to 22-14 before the Daisies again rallied with three-pointers to cut the margin to two. A pair of baskets by Allen and one by Richards helped push the lead back out to nine points at 31-22, and Hotchkiss remained in control for most of the rest of the game.

Foul trouble was a challenge for Hotchkiss in the second half, and Richards, Harrison, and Leanna Wells ’23 each finished the game with four personals.

In the fourth quarter, Miss Porter’s made a final push and closed the lead to only five points at 42-37, but Richards responded with the biggest bucket of the game, driving to the basket and earning a three-point play to put the game out of reach.