Lopreato breaks scoring record

MT. PLEASANT - Over the course of the history of 5-on-5 girls basketball at Mt. Pleasant, no player has scored more points than Andrea Lopreato did on Friday night. The Mt. Pleasant sophomore scored 37 points to become the school record holder for most points in a game, as the Panthers won a Southeast Conference game over Burlington, 62-52.

Lopreato was scalding hot from the field and the line, missing just six shots. She went 13-for-19 from the field, including 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. She filled the stat sheet in other ways, adding 16 rebounds and five steals.

The previous record holder was Darlene Corey, who held the record since 1990 when she scored 34 points. The previous high total scored by a sophomore was 31 by Taylor Shull, who hit that mark in the season opener at Muscatine in 2009.

Lopreato dominated from the tip, setting herself up to break the record by pouring in 24 points in the first half. The Panthers led 16-8 after one quarter and 34-22 at halftime.

Lopreato wasn't the only player on the court that did something special. Burlington's Alexis Standard hit six 3-pointers in the second half to keep the game relatively close. Mt. Pleasant led 46-33 after three quarters and cruised to a 10=point victory.

Mt. Pleasant is now 10-9 overall and 5-4 in SEC play. The Panthers will host Fairfield on Friday, Feb. 12.