Brock Netter, Staff Writer
WASHINGTON C.H. — After Tuesday’s matchup at Washington, Marcy Dudgeon’s smile was hard to miss.
Coming into the game, the senior was 18 points away from reaching 1,000 — a goal she’d been shooting for throughout her four-year career, and one her and her mom, Christy, had been discussing for quite some time.
Marcy scored exactly 18 points in the contest, earning a chance to meet her mom with a hug during the stoppage in time.
That moment was more important than any win or loss.
“It’s been a goal of mine since I was really young. My mom played basketball and it’s always been our goal to share that together because she never got to accomplish that,” Dudgeon said. “Just being able to share that moment with her was really special for me. The pressure is off now.”
Dudgeon’s 1,000th came midway through the fourth quarter in a 53-37 loss, one the Mustangs (8-12) suffered without starting point guard Mahaley Farmer.
For the better part of three quarters, Westfall was right in the game.
Before the Blue Lions (10-9) pulled away, the Mustangs played like they have been recently.
PHOTOS: Images from Washington’s 53-37 win over Westfall
“We’re playing really good basketball right now. Our record might not show it, but we’re really coming together,” Dudgeon said. “It hurt us that we didn’t have Mahaley tonight. She’s out with the flu. But we have two games left this week, so we’re preparing for what’s to come.”
Washington’s Jeleeya Smith got the night’s scoring started with two free throws before Shawna Conger gave the Blue Lions a 4-0 lead with 6:01 left in the first quarter.
Dudgeon then scored her first points, thanks to two free throws, before the Mustangs later tied the game, 8-8, with less than two minutes to play. At the 1:24 mark, Dudgeon scored again to give Westfall its first lead of the night at 10-8. The Mustangs then took a 13-10 lead into the second.
With Westfall leading 15-14, Conger nailed a triple to put the Blue Lions back on top with 6:20 to go in the first half. After the teams went into halftime tied 21-21, Conger continued to make a difference, scoring 11 points in the third to give Washington a 37-27 edge at the start of the fourth.
From there, the Blue Lions were able to seal the win while Dudgeon joined the 1,000 point club.
Conger led all scorers with 24 points alongside five rebounds while Smith added 10 points and 12 rebounds to the mix.
Dudgeon paced the Mustangs with 18 points and six boards while Gabby Patete ended the night with 11 points and four rebounds.
Westfall is back in action Thursday, traveling to Piketon, while Washington hosts Miami Trace Saturday evening.
With her career point total now sitting at exactly 1,000, Dudgeon knows what she needs to be doing in order to help her team sustain a successful tournament run.
“I’m just focusing on what I can do best for my team,” Dudgeon said. “I’m a senior and I have to be a leader. These girls look up to me and I just need to be there for them. Being able to play good basketball for them and keeping my coaches happy is the biggest thing.”
BOX SCORE
Westfall: 13-8-6-10 — 37
Washington: 10-11-16-16 — 53
Westfall: 14-47 FG, 9-21 FT, 0-9 3 pt., 28 rebounds (Henry 6, Dudgeon 6), 17 turnovers, 6 assists (Mullins 3). Scoring: Dudgeon 18, Patete 11, Mullins 4, Kitchen 2, Henry 1, Lindsey 1.
Washington: 18-57 FG, 13-16 FT, 4-15 3 pt., 39 rebounds (Smith 12), 10 turnovers, 8 assists (Conger 2). Scoring: Conger 24, Smith 11, Wall 6, Dye 4, Sever 2, Estep 2, Mongold 2, Tackage 2.