BEL AIR, Md. — Harford Community College women's basketball won its third game in the last four on Saturday at APG Federal Credit Union Arena with a 72-56 victory over the College of Southern Maryland Hawks in a Maryland JUCO showdown.
The Fighting Owls — now 4–3 (3–2 MD JUCO) — leaned on a balanced attack and stifling defense, while the Hawks (2–6, 1–3) struggled to find rhythm after a slow start.
Harford wasted little time seizing control. The Fighting Owls blitzed out to a commanding 20-6 lead after the first quarter, fueled by crisp ball movement and sharp shooting. Harford shot 44.4% from the floor during the opening frame.
Though the second quarter proved more of a slog — Harford mustered only two field goals and 62.5% from the line while CSM chipped away — the Fighting Owls still carried a 29-26 edge into halftime.
The third quarter proved decisive, as Harford tightened its grip with a strong 18-point frame, taking a 47-43 lead into the final quarter. The Hawks shot 43.8% in the quarter but couldn't overcome foul trouble and limited ball movement.
In the fourth, the Fighting Owls pulled away — outscoring CSM 25–13 behind solid free throw shooting and defensive pressure that forced turnovers. Harford closed out the game with a 16-point margin, never allowing the Hawks to pull closer.
Harford's victory was powered by sharp shooting and balanced contributions. Freshmen guards Caryne Nelson (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) and Nehir Safkan (Mersin, Turkey) each scored a game-high 18 points — combining for exactly half of Harford's 72 points. They also contributed on the glass and handled the pressure defense admirably. Nelson went 7-17 from the field and added six rebounds and six assists; Safkan shot 8-16, grabbed four boards and had four assists.
Freshman forward Amya Goodsell (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) — fresh off winning NJCAA Region 20 Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Month (November) — added 11 points and six rebounds, while sophomore forward Ayca Kazak (Samsun, Turkey) provided a spark off the bench with 10 points — including three straight triples in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win.
CSM's offense struggled throughout. The Hawks shot just 27.8% from the field and 12.5% from deep. Their only notable performances came from guards Amoni Taylor (15 points) and Raylin Lee (14 points), but both fought against a stifling Harford defense that forced 19 turnovers, limiting second-chance points and fast break opportunities.
Harford's defense suffocated the Hawks all game — holding them to just 22 made field goals on 79 attempts and limiting three-point opportunities to 2-of-16. The Fighting Owls also dominated in the paint (38 points compared to CSM's 32) and turned 19 turnovers into 14 points.
Offensively, Harford showed patience. The team attempted only 68 shots and got to the free-throw line 27 times, converting 14. Their shot selection and ball movement — 18 assists overall — underscored a team-oriented approach well suited for the grind of MD JUCO play.
The Fighting Owls will look to build on this effort as they head to Ephraim, Utah this weekend for the Snow College Holiday Invitational. Harford faces No. 16 Salt Lake Community College on Friday and tournament host on Saturday. They return to APGFCU Arena on Dec. 19 for a 6 p.m. tip with Howard Community College.
