Carmel stays hot, downs Highland Park

Updated: January 24, 2013 5:24PM

MUNDELEIN — Carmel’s girls basketball team has been playing a schedule more fit for the Chicago Bulls of late.

Hosting Highland Park Tuesday night, the Corsairs played their fifth game in 11 days. Behind the inside muscle of senior Kayla Quinn, they defeated the Giants 51-41 in a non-conference game.

The victory was Carmel’s fourth win in that 11-day stretch, which comes on the heels of playing five games in eight days over the holiday break.

“I said at the beginning of this run, if we can stay composed, we’ll come out OK,” Carmel coach Kelly Perz said. “I’m happy no frustration from prior games has carried over.”

Carmel (15-7) was in control of the game from the opening minutes, leading 32-17 at the break against a lethargic Highland Park team playing its third game in five nights.

Quinn had 12 points in the first half and 16 for the game to go along with nine rebounds. Carmel did an excellent job guarding Giants senior Lena Munzer, playing her man-to-man. She entered the contest averaging 25 points per game and finished with 26, but they were quiet points. The closest second-half deficit for Highland Park (13-8) was five when it trailed 46-41 with 1:06 left.

“You really have to work your hardest when you are on (Munzer),” Carmel junior Paige Gauthier said. “You can’t take a break the entire game.”

In the double bonus, the Corsairs made 4-of-4 free throws in the final minute to seal the game.

Carmel junior Nicole Bitter was the only other player in double digits with 10 points.

Pick up your local Pioneer Press newspaper on Thursday to read more about the Carmel girls basketball team.

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