Turnovers doom Lady Greyhounds

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NAUGATUCK — The New Year has not been kind to the Naugatuck girls basketball team.

Coming into Tuesday night’s game against Kennedy, the Greyhounds were looking to snap their eight-game losing streak dating back to 2010 when they last beat the Eagles.

However, the Hounds couldn’t pull off the sweep as the Eagles raced out to a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter, providing them with the cushion they would need to cruise to a 49-23 victory in what proved to be a very physical game.

Naugy’s Lauren Piroscafo, the Naugatuck Valley League’s fifth-leading scorer, managed just nine points and rarely found room to get to the basket as Kennedy’s (3-14) defense packed it in the paint.

She was limited to two field goals for the evening, scoring five of her nine points at the free throw line. Aside from Piroscafo’s two baskets, Naugatuck (3-15) only registered six additional field goals on the night.

Naugatuck managed just another three points by halftime, walking into the locker room looking demoralized with Kennedy leading, 16-6.

Naugatuck coach Jodie Ruccio was displeased with her team and after a quick halftime pep talk she came back out on the court alone, leaving the team in the locker room to discuss amongst themselves what they thought had to change in the last 16 minutes of play.

Unfortunately for the Hounds, the second half proved to be no different as Kennedy’s offense came out on fire, putting up 34 points in the final two quarters.

Ruccio was at a loss for words at the end of the night.

“I honestly cannot describe what happened tonight other than us turning the ball over,” Ruccio said. “When you commit 32 turnovers, you are not going to win any basketball games.”

Ruccio wasn’t the only one disappointed with the team’s performance.

“Our season’s winding down and the outcome of tonight’s game was disappointing,” Piroscafo said. “We know we have to take more care of the ball if we are going to be successful in our final two games.”

For seniors Renee Augustine and Michele Troschler, they will have one home game left, scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. against Seymour.

“It’s very frustrating to know how hard we work everyday in practice to prepare for the games,” Augustine said.

Augustine said she feels her team will continue the hard work and find the winning touch in the team’s final two games of the season starting Friday night when the Greyhounds travel to Wolcott.