BEL AIR, Md. — Harford Community College women's basketball burst out of the gates against the CCBC Essex Knights on Tuesday night, but the Knights weathered the early surge and pulled away for a 98–56 decision at APGFCU Arena.
Harford (2-3, 1-2 Maryland Juco) came out energized in the first quarter, hitting 10 of 19 shots (52.6 %) and converting both free throws for a 23–15 lead after the opening 10 minutes. Freshman forward Amya Goodsell (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) was at the forefront with 6 of 10 shooting in the quarter, and a layup from Caryne Nelson (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) helped extend the early advantage.
The optimism, however, began to fade in the second quarter. Harford managed just 12 points on 6 of 17 shooting and missed its lone 3-point try, while Essex turned up the pressure and pulled within striking distance, outscoring the Fighting Owls 27–12 to take a 42–35 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw the No. 6 ranked (NJCAA Division II) Knights tighten their grasp on the game. Harford's offense stalled — the Owls hit only 3 of 13 field goals while Essex erupted for 34 points. The 24-point swing proved a blow from which Harford could not recover.
In the fourth quarter, Harford was unable to mount a serious comeback. The Fighting Owls posted 11 points — with a few late buckets from Nelson and sophomore guard Destaney Harris (Loch Raven) — but Essex maintained control en route to the 42-point final margin.
Despite the lopsided score, there were bright spots for Harford. Goodsell finished with a double-double on a game-high 17 points and game-best 12 rebounds. Nelson chipped in 13 and Harris added 11, providing valuable production against a tough opponent.
On the other side, Essex distributed its offense well, getting 16 from McKenzie Nelson and 14 from guard Kendralee Ramirez. The Knights (7-1, 3-0) shot 52.3 % from the field overall, including 10 of 21 from beyond the arc, and scored 31 points off turnovers — a deciding factor in the final outcome.
The Fighting Owls will look to recapture their early-quarter intensity and regain momentum as they prepare for their next test, hitting the road on Dec. 3 to take on Allegany College of Maryland.
