Men’s and women's basketball extend their winning streaks, defeating McDaniel College and Haverford

Men’s Basketball

On Feb. 1, men’s basketball defeated the McDaniel College Green Terror 72–52. 

Led by sophomore guard John Windley and a first-half scoring flurry, the Blue Jays were able to pull away in the first half and improve to 11–2 in the Centennial Conference play. Windley matched his career high with 20 points on six-of-eight shooting from the three-point line, while also grabbing five rebounds.

With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Hopkins was only leading by two points. However, a 20–12 run in the final five minutes helped extend the lead to double digits by the end of the half. 

McDaniel closed the gap several times in this game, cutting the lead to six with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation. 

The Blue Jays responded once again with a 22–7 run, which would inevitably end the game. The Blue Jays shot an incredible 50% from the floor and 46% from the three-point line. Sophomore guard Brian Johansson, graduate student guard Jayden Nixon and graduate student forward Tom Quarry all contributed massively to the torrid shooting performance. 

Saturday’s matchup against Haverford College was a nail-biter as well. The ninth-ranked Blue Jays won a close 59–56 game against their Centennial Conference rival. 

It was a matter of free throws at the end of the game as Nixon and Quarry both made two huge free throws near the end of regulation to seal the win for the Blue Jays.

John Windley once again led the Blue Jays in scoring, with 16 points as the men’s team extended their winning streak to eight games.

Women’s Basketball

Women’s basketball extended their winning streak to nine games and also went on a big second-half run to defeat McDaniel College 55–46 on Feb. 1. 

It was a 12–3 run in the second half that helped break the game open for the Blue Jays. During the spurt, the Blue Jays got valuable scoring from senior forward Kristin Ralston and sophomore forward Michaela O’Neil.

Much like in the men’s game, the Green Terror overcame a double-digit lead to single-digits in the fourth quarter. However, the stifling defense by the Blue Jays helped deliver them to victory, as the team held McDaniel scoreless in the final five minutes of the game to secure the win.  

Graduate student forward Olivia Parisi led the Blue Jays in scoring with 13 points. She was one of three Blue Jays who scored double digits. 

On Saturday, it was a matter of resiliency for the Blue Jays, as they held off the feisty Haverford College in the fourth quarter to win 55–49. Parisi posted her season-high of 25 points while also grabbing nine rebounds in the victory. 

In a game this close, the difference-maker was at the free throw line, where Parisi was a perfect 13 for 13, which is one short of the University’s record for free throws made in a game.

Again, it was the defense that came to play for the Blue Jays, holding Haverford College to nine for 38 from the floor after the first quarter. 

Perhaps the most remarkable stat from this ten-game winning streak is that the Blue Jays have held their opponents to less than 50 points in every game. So far, Hopkins has remained undefeated at home this season.