Dagny Slomack’s 25 Points Paces Newark Academy to Win Over Mount St. Dominic, Its 3rd Straight

In game that saw Newark Academy (N.J.) Girl’s basketball team tied at five all with Mount St. Dominic with 6:10 to go in the first quarter, it never looked back after sophomore Erica Reed gave it the lead for good.

The Lady Minutemen, behind senior Dagny Slomack‘s 25 points, rolled to a 53-39 victory over Mount St. Dominic Tuesday night at home. It was the team’s third consecutive victory.

Slomack and Katerina Dokas dropped in seven and five points, respectively, to help Newark Academy (13-6) to an 18-8 advantage in the first period.

After another solid quarter, the Lady Minutemen increased their lead to 12 points by the end of the first half.

But the Lady Lions (9-10) roared back, slicing the deficit to five points with 5:06 remaining in the third period.

However, the dynamic duo of Slomack and Dokas scored six unanswered points to make it a nine-point contest with 2:36 left in the third.

Mount St. Dominic sophomore Jillian Cianfrocca sank two from the charity stripe to narrow the gap at 32-25. But Reed and senior Julia Miller scored back-to-back buckets to end the quarter up by 11 points.

In the fourth period, Slomack provided the offensive firepower for Newark Academy, draining 13 points to help put the Lady Lions in the rearview mirror.

Lady Minutemen head coach Liz Bona said that she emphasized the importance of executing the finer points–defense, rebounding and other hoops elements–so they will be fully prepared to rock and roll in the future.

“We’re just working hard on the little things that we need to do in order to succeed down the line come tournament time,” Bona explained. “Defense, we’re trying to keep working hard with that. There are always times where we get a little bit relaxed, and maybe don’t get out on the shooter, don’t box out well enough. So, we’re just working on trying to be consistent.”

Dokas poured in 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had two blocks and made two steals, while Reed contributed seven points, nine boards, three assists and three thefts. Slomack added six rebounds and six steals in the triumph.

Freshman Ava Kelshaw led Mount St. Dominic with 14 points and six bords.

While it hard to beat the same team twice in a season, Newark Academy has done it three times this high school basketball year.

The Lady Minutemen travel to West Orange Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

— Jerry Del Priore