The Lady Statesmen of Marshall High School dealt the Lady Jags their seventh loss of the season and their second loss in Conference 13. The first quarter was a back and forth affair with five different Jaguars lighting up the scoreboard to keep pace with Marshall's dominant post player who netted 75% of her team's points. The buzzer ended the quarter with both teams tied at 11.

Marshall pulled ahead for good early in the second quarter. The Lady Jags defense remained competetive, but the offense slumped to just one basket and two free throws for the entire frame. The half closed with Falls Church down 16-21. The Lady Jags kept within 5 points for most of the third quarter, but in the final three minutes, Marshall pulled further ahead to take a nine-point lead into the final frame, 33-24.

Falls Church opened up their offense in the 4th quarter, sparked by Sierra Kennard who scored 12 points in those final eight minutes with Leah Shaw and Rasha Benhamida also contributing field goals and free throws. Unfortunately for the home team, Marshall was able to take advantage of an early bonus and was able to draw enough fouls and land enough free throws to maintain their safe lead and run out the clock to win by ten.

Despite the loss, several Jaguars turned in noteworthy performances. The "Three Machine" swished and banked half a dozen long balls tonight, led by Kennard's three "3s" and followed by two from Leah Shaw to keep both teammates within the top three of the Conference 13 hierarchy in that category. (The Lady Jags now have 44 three-pointers -- maintaining their Conference 13 team leadership for the second straight year). Shaw's 3s have moved her past 70 of them thus far in  her Varsity career, well within striking distance of the Lady Jaguar 21st Century benchmark of 86 (established by Amber Ecelbarger, 2012-2016). Rasha Benhamida tallied her fifth double-digit game of the season, scoring in every quarter tonight. Kennard's marvelous fourth quarter brought her just shy of 20 points tonight and has moved her past 400 points in just her thirty-third career Varsity game.

Falls Church will attempt to even its Conference 13 record against Stuart HS early next week.

Scoring Summary: Sierra Kennard, 19 points; Rasha Benhamida, 10 points; Leah Shaw, 7 points; Mia Pendleton, 4 points; Meg Verhagen, 1 point.