Alex Kiss-Rusk ’12 led Andover in scoring against New Hampton and Loomis Chaffee, as the team lost to New Hampton but bounced back against Loomis. Kiss-Rusk scored 14 and 10 points in each game, respectively, contributing a double-double in the loss against New Hampton. Both games occurred before winter break, along with a loss in a scrimmage against Andover High School. Andover took the court with intensity in the first half of the game against New Hampton, leaving halftime with a solid lead. In the second half, however, New Hampton evened up the score and kept its defense tight. Bright spots for Andover included seven points and 11 rebounds for Megan Robertson ’11 and 14 points and 10 rebounds for Kiss-Rusk. The following week, Andover looked to improve in a scrimmage against cross-town rival Andover High School. The team worked on its zone defense against the strong three-point shooting Andover High team. Robertson said that though the team did not earn the win, the added court time was worthwhile. “The Andover High School scrimmage provided a lot of opportunities for us to work on different aspects of our game, as well as polish defense and plays,” said Robertson. The extra practice paid off when Andover returned to the regular season, fighting Loomis Chaffee hard for a 47-32 win. With its finely tuned zone defense, Andover entered halftime with a twelve-point lead. Kiss-Rusk led the scoring in the game against Loomis Chaffee with a total of 10 points. Just behind her was Robertson with nine points. Andover spread the ball out, with five players scoring at least six points each. Despite the two losses, Andover looks to the remainder of the season with high hopes. “Concerning the rest of the season,” said Robertson, “I think that we have improved a lot from the first few days of practicing. We have developed good team chemistry and that will help us a lot on the court during the season.” Andover’s game against Cushing was cancelled on Wednesday, so the team currently stands at 2-1, with regular season wins against Worcester and Loomis. Andover will take on Choate Saturday at home.
