PORTLAND – McAuley remained undefeated with a 56-36 victory aganst Sanford in a Southern Maine Activities Association schoolgirl basketball game Saturday.

Rebecca Knight put up 25 points and snagged eight rebounds, and Allie Clement scored 20 points as the Lions (9-0) found another way to win.

The Lions’ big inside threat, Alexa Coulombe, scored just three points under double coverage, but blocked 14 shots, snagged 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists.

“That was a good win for us,” said Knight. “Sanford is a good team. Tough. A lot of good shooters. We have a lot of weapons on this team and today we pulled it all together.”

The Lions trailed 11-10 after the first quarter but built a 24-17 lead by halftime on a 14-6 run.

Knight scored eight in the run and amassed 18 first-half points.

“You’d make adjustments on (Knight), then No. 23 (Clement) starts shooting 3s,” said Sanford Coach Kristy Parent. “We’re going to be a better team having played them today. They’re an all-star team.”

The Lions led 24-22 at halftime, then scored the first 13 points of the third quarter to make it 37-22, and finished the period with a 46-28 advantage.

The run started on a 3-point shot by Clement.

Sanford (6-3) moved the ball well, had multiple shooters, but was blocked inside a lot.

Shae Riley was the Redskins’ leading scorer with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

“We started the game strong, so that was a positive we’ll take away,” said Parent. “But our shots went cold and they pulled ahead. If you get caught going up and down the court with McAuley and you’re not scoring, it’s hard to win.”

McAuley was effective on the perimeter and inside, and setting the pace of the game.

“We really wanted to focus on getting the ball inside today,” said McAuley Coach Amy Vachon. “Today Alexa’s shots weren’t falling, but she gets three or four (defenders) on her and she’ll find the open player.”

Vachon said her team hasn’t talked about being undefeated.

“We have a long way to go,” she said. “Different teams come at us different ways. And the last two games we’ve played have been tough.”

Knight agreed.

“I don’t really think about it,” she said. “I go into every game like it’s a big game and so does everyone else.”

McAuley will face Biddeford on Monday.

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:

jmenendez@pressherald.com