Washington girls end 16 game skid against Fairfield

FAIRFIELD — For the last eight years, Fairfield has owned Washington in girls basketball.

From December of 2014 up until January of 2022 the Trojans had won 16 straight games against the Demons.

On Friday night in Fairfield, the Demons changed the narrative by downing the Trojans 62-32.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the first quarter between the two teams.

After trading buckets in the first two minutes of the game, Fairfield would built its largest lead of the night off back-to-back threes from Savannah Hollander and Ashlyn Lisk. A free throw later by Hollander and the Trojans held a 9-4 lead with 3:01 to go.

Washington would end strong from then until the end of the first as Kendall Hinrichsen and Adalyn Long each hit three pointers and Leighton Messinger added two to put the Demons up 12-9 heading into the second.

The Demons would never trail again.

For Washington, the second was quarter was one of the best of the night.

Fairfield’s Briana Steele scored the Trojan’s first basket of the second in the first minute and she would score the last with 2:50 to go.

The Trojans scored just four in the quarter.

As for the Demons, they scored 11 unanswered between Steele’s first and last basket, building a 23-13 lead.

Washington would end the quarter on a 7-0 run, which included a Iris Peterson layup with 0.2 on the clock. At the half, the Demons led 30-13.

To start the third, the Trojans pulled within 11 on an 8-2 run to make it 32-21.

Washington was quick to answer back though as they scored six unanswered and outscored the Trojans 15-5 in the final 4:55 of the quarter to lead 47-26.

Washington continued to click into the fourth, as the Demons outscored the Trojans 15-6 on their way to victory.

For Washington, Leighton Messinger led with 14 points. She was one of four Demons in double figures. Alex Murphy followed with 13 points. Adalyn Long and Kendall Hinrichsen each had 11.

Hollander led Fairfield with 11. Steele followed with 10 points. Lisk finished with seven. Addison Ferrel ended with two and Maddie Jones one.

Washington will be back in action on Tuesday in their home opener against Pella.

Fairfield will be at home on Friday against Fort Madison.