E.O. Smith Girls Spoil Enfield's Perfect Season

STORRS, CT — Something that hasn't happened in over two years took place Friday night on the basketball court at E.O. Smith High School: the Enfield girls lost a regular season game.

The host Panthers rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to knock the Eagles out of the unbeaten ranks, posting a 67-62 victory to snap Enfield's 43-game regular season winning streak.

The last time Enfield had fallen in regular season play was a 51-48 loss to Suffield on Jan. 9, 2015.

McKenna Dale, who will receive the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance Female High School Athlete of the Year award at the 76th Gold Key Dinner in late April, got off to a hot start, drilling a trio of three-point shots in the opening quarter to stake the Panthers to an 18-15 lead.

Enfield caught fire in the second quarter, running off 16 straight points to assume a 31-18 lead, and led 35-28 at intermission.

E.O. Smith closed the gap to 43-41 entering the fourth quarter, then embarked on a 26-point final period to put away the visitors. Enfield was hurt by the loss of center Mary Baskerville, who fouled out with 3:47 remaining.

For the Panthers, the victory avenged a 51-41 loss at Enfield on Dec. 22.

Dale wound up with 30 points, while her sister Kaleigh tallied 16, including nine in the final quarter. The Dale sisters were especially effective from the foul line, connecting on 12 of 13 free throws.

Caitrin Spottiswoode added nine points for E.O. Smith (9-5).

Danielle Delano led the Eagles (12-1) with 18 points. Baskerville scored 16, including 14 in the first half, and Cat Fonseca added 14.

E.O. Smith travels to Hartford Public Monday at 5:15 p.m., while that same night, Enfield plays at East Hartford at 6:45 p.m.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen