The Toll Gate girls basketball team traveled across town and handed rival Pilgrim a 59-39 defeat in a big Division III battle last week.

The Titans offense was rolling early and would grab a 28-13 lead by the halftime break. Toll Gate’s Adeline Areson and Dulce Garcia then combined for 23 points in the second half to help the Titans run away with the win. Areson finished with 26 points while Garcia tallied 13 and Mary McNulty 11.

The Titans have struggled to find consistency on offense this season and are hoping that the win will help spark a turnaround, as it was their season high in points scored.  

“We really tried focusing on shooting. We have struggled with that and there have been times where we have gotten into our own heads. We just kept shooting today, even when it wasn’t going in. We were together as a team and kept our composure,” said Areson.

Pilgrim was led by Lily Hall with 11 points while Sloan Hogan scored 10. The Pats have hit some recent adversity as senior Amaya Coffie exited the lineup with a knee injury. Coffie is expected back by the end of the regular season, so for now, Pilgrim will continue to look for answers in her absence.

“I did not expect this to happen, we were not tough enough tonight. We played scared, they didn’t give up but it just wasn’t enough. I think playing [Toll Gate] in the holiday tournament and losing messed with them a little bit tonight, we just didn’t show up. Dulce went off, Addie went off. Our defense did not come together and our shots weren’t falling,” said Pilgrim coach Kaitlyn Rachiele.

Areson and Garcia were projected to be one of the division’s best duos and have begun clicking. Areson is back after missing last season with a knee injury while Garcia has been called on to replace the production of last year’s leading scorer Bri Simono in the back court.

“I feel pretty good. After games I am a little sore but I try to play fierce and I don’t stop, because once I stop I start to overthink things. As a team, we have been playing together and giving it 100 percent,” said Areson.

Garcia added: “With the losses that we have been taking, we really just wanted to come into this one strong especially against our arrival. There’s a little bit of pressure [having an expanded role] but it has been great being able to work with Addie because I didn’t get the opportunity to work with her last year,” said Garcia. “I feel like I am finally getting a handle on it. I’m just trying to do the best I can and take advantage of every opportunity I get.”