Third-ranked Seton Keough (3-1), the defending Baltimore Catholic League champion, continued its trek through the top teams in the metro area with a 39-33 victory at No. 4 Severna Park (0-2) last night.
Meghann Donovan (15 points) and the Gators' other returning starters -- Amanda Foster, Charity Carbine and Melanie Morris -- combined for 31 points.
The Gators' only loss was to nationally ranked Elizabeth Seton of Washington by 15 points. "We've played the top two teams in the Catholic League and shown some progress," said Severna Park coach Kevin McGrath whose girls dropped a 42-36 overtime decision at No. 5 St. Mary's on Tuesday. "It's great for us to play teams like this."
The Gators took advantage of the Falcons' 5-for-31 (16 percent) from the floor in the first half to build a 21-11 lead at intermission.
Lauren McAlister (nine points) started a 15-5 run by the Falcons that was capped by Ashley Evans' buzzer beater to end the third period and suddenly the visitors led by only 30-26. The Falcons' rebounding that kept them in the game in the first half (outrebounded Gators, 20-10) allowed them to make a game of it the final period.
Baskets by Foster and Carbine got the Gator lead back up to eight (34-26) to start the last eight minutes before Angie DeSalvo cut it to six with 5:05 remaining.
Jen Holmes, a 6-foot-2 senior headed for Vanderbilt, was held to nine points, but pulled in 15 boards as the Falcons finished with a 33-21 advantage inside and got within four points (34-30) after an Evans layup with four minutes remaining.
After the teams traded turnovers, Foster's three with 2:39 left gave the Gators a comfortable 37-30 lead, which they were able to maintain.
