Greenwich High Girls Basketball Goes 6-0

By Greenwich Sentinel
Featured Articles, Sports

By David Fierro

**Photo by Dan Utzinger**: Elsa Xhekaj, a freshman guard, scored 10 point in the Greenwich High School varsity girls basketball team’s 43-37 win over host Fairfield Ludlowe on Jan. 5, 2024, at Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

The season of perfection continued for Greenwich High School’s girls basketball team, thanks to two more road victories.

The Cardinals won their fourth consecutive road game to start the season and kept their undefeated record intact, improving to 6-0 with wins at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and Shepaug Valley.

Greenwich posted a 43-37 win over host Fairfield Ludlowe on Jan. 3 and topped Shepaug Valley, 47-20, in a game held on Dec. 30. Against Fairfield Ludlowe, freshman center Zuri Faison scored 17 points to pace Greenwich’s balanced scoring attack.

**Photo courtesy of Dan Utzinger:** Greenwich High School junior guard Madi Utzinger, right, dribbles the ball during a game against Fairfield Ludlowe on Jan. 3, 2025, at Fairfield High School. The Cardinals won the game, 43-37.

“It was a great game of basketball with high intensity and aggression from both teams,” Greenwich coach Megan Wax said of her team’s win over Ludlowe.

The Cardinals held a 15-11 lead on the Falcons following the first quarter and were ahead, 27-18 at halftime. Greenwich brought a 40-31 on Ludlowe into the fourth quarter.

Faison scored 11 of her team-high 17 points in the first half to power Greenwich’s offense. Elsa Xhekaj, a freshman guard, scored 10 points, including a 3-pointer for the Cardinals (6-0).

**Photo by Dan Utzinger**: Cardinals freshman center Zuri Faison goes up for a shot in the low post while being tightly guarded during a road game against Fairfield Ludlowe on Jan. 3, 2025. Greenwich posted a 43-37 victory to improve to 6-0.

Junior guard Madi Utzinger added eight points and senior guard/forward Alyssa Gath totaled four points in the winning effort. Also adding to Greenwich’s offense were senior power forward Kate Baxendale (two points) and junior guard Juliette Pelham (two points).

Senior Kate Cimador scored a game-high 20 points to lead Ludlowe (4-2). Junior Hayden McBean had eight points for the Falcons.

**Photo by Dan Utzinger**: Greenwich High School senior forward Kate Baxendale shoots in the low post vs. Fairfield Ludlowe.

The Cardinals’ game versus Ludlowe was their first FCIAC matchup of the season. In their convincing win against host Shepaug Valley, the Cards led 15-0 after the first quarter and 28-9 at halftime.

“It was another great team win with contributions from every girl,” Wax noted.

Utzinger poured in a game-high 15 points for Greenwich, 10 of which came in the opening half.

**Photo courtesy of Dan Utzinger:** Cardinals senior Alyssa Gath (No. 10) takes a perimeter shot while being defended by Hayden McBean of Fairfield Ludlowe High School during an FCIAC varsity girls basketball game on Jan. 3, 2025.

Utzinger made two 3-pointers on her way to having another strong game. Faison and Xhekaj scored nine points apiece, while Baxendale, senior Lauren Dionis and sophomore Lily Nogaki had three points each for the victors.

Pelham and Gath each scored two points and senior Lauren Judge made a foul shot for a point for GHS, which once again, showed its impressive depth.

**Photo by Dan Utzinger:** Greenwich freshman guard Elsa Xhekaj looks to pass the ball against host Fairfield Ludlowe.

Up next for Greenwich is a big FCIAC game on Tuesday. The Cardinals remain on the road and will travel to Trumbull to play FCIAC opponent St. Joseph. Greenwich will then host Wilton on Friday (Jan. 10) at 7 p.m.