The girls varsity basketball team defeated Founders League foe and reigning league champion Choate 61-47 on Wednesday, January 18, in the Olcott Center.

The opening minutes of the game were back and forth, as both teams looked to get into a rhythm and establish their gameplan. Halfway through the first quarter Loomis Chaffee gained ground thanks to a seven-point run that included a deep three-pointer from junior Ke'iara Odume and layups from senior Carys Baker and sophomore Liv Westfort. Choate worked to cut the deficit with two straight baskets of their own, though, and the first quarter ended with the score 11-7 in favor of the Pelicans.

The Loomis offense exploded at the beginning of the second quarter, and the Pelicans took a 22-point lead halfway through the quarter. During the run, five different players recorded points, with Baker leading the way with back-to-back three-point shots in less than 30 seconds of play.

Choate did not give up, though. By halfway through the fourth quarter, the Wild Boars had cut the deficit to only six points. Loomis quickly shutdown any attempts at completing the comeback with a 10-point run of its own that sealed the game.

Baker finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Junior Jessica Roy posted 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist, and Odume ended the game with 10 points and six boards.

Up next, the Pelicans host St. George’s School on Saturday, January 21, at 3 p.m. in Olcott.