By Mike Rego
One thing or another, at least, has cost the East Providence High School girls' basketball team in just about every game they've played to date in 2023-24
The Townies returned to action Wednesday night, Jan. 17, in Cranston against West in a Division I contest. The host Falcons defeated the Townies 56-50. East Providence dipped to 1-7 in the league standings.
Harmonie McDowell led the locals with 22 points. Zarae Hall and Angie Tavares each added eight. Katherine Amado chipped in six.
The Townies hurt their cause at the free throw line, going just 8-for-18 from the charity stripe.
In its next outing Friday night, Jan. 19, at home in a 52-27 loss to Barrington, East Providence's inability to handle the Eagles' pressure defense eventually allowed the visitors to pull away in the third quarter.
Barrington took a quite comfortable 44-19 advantage into the final eight minutes.
Freshman forward Ashley Bernard had a season-best 10 points off the bench to lead the locals. McDowell had seven.
East Providence had a quick turn-around contest against visiting Classical Saturday afternoon, Jan. 20, and the Townies simply didn't make enough shots when the game was still in the offing.
The Purple led 16-3 at the end of the first period and 33-14 at the break en route to the 50-25 victory.
McDowell had nine points to pace EP. Trinity Provencher had six in her substitute role. Hall chipped in five. The Townies fell to 1-9 in league play with the losses.
East Providence's upcoming games include: Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Rogers, 6:30 p.m.; at Bay View, 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 31: at Ponaganset, 6:30 p.m.
— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.