On Monday night the Independence girls basketball team opened their season with a 56-41 home win over the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans.

Sophomore Ayanna Anderson posted a double double for the Lady Patriots scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.  Junior Sharonda Smith led the scoring with 15 points. She also had 5 rebounds, 5 steals and one assist.  Freshman Braylon Milton poured in 10 points, had 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.  Laura Flynn added 8.  Brianna McManus had 7 and Alejandra Picon finished the night with 2.

The Lady Patriots took the opening jump ball and a quick pass under the basket gave Indy a 2-0 lead.  Northwest Cabarrus came back and the Trojans took their only lead at 5-2 before the Lady Patriots went on a 13-0 run and led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Indy went two minutes without scoring.  However, the defense held the Trojans to only one point.  With 3:23 to go in the first half the Trojans had cut Indy’s lead to ten points, but the Lady Patriots came fighting back and took a 15 point half time lead 28-13.

At the start of the third quarter, the Trojans cut the lead to eleven.  Indy’s Sharonda Smith drove to the basket, made the shot and picked up a foul.  Smith made the old fashioned three point play moving Indy out to a 33-17 lead.  The Lady Patriots moved out to a 21 point lead on a Brianna McManus basket with 2:20 left to play in the third quarter.  The Lady Patriots finished the third quarter leading the Trojans 43-26.

In the fourth quarter Northwest Cabarrus picked up their defense, but they also picked up several fouls.  Indy was in the double bonus with 4:56 left in the game leading 48-30.

At the 4:13 mark Northwest Cabarrus started playing a full court press which caused Indy some problems but also increased the number of Trojans fouls causing two Trojans players to foul out.After Coach Galvani made some adjustments, the Lady Patriots handled the press and went on to take a 56-41 home victory.