When the going got tough, Riana Xhekaj got going for Greenwich High School’s girls basketball team in its game against FCIAC rival New Canaan.

Xhekaj, a senior tri-captain, scored all six of her points late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s matchup versus the Rams, with each basket either tying or giving the Cardinals the lead.

Xhekaj’s clutch play down the stretch, sophomore Madi Utzinger’s 16-point performance and a strong overall defensive effort lifted Greenwich to a well-earned 40-35 win over visiting New Canaan on Tuesday night.

The victory was the third straight for Greenwich, which continued its successful 2023-2024 campaign. The Cardinals improved their record to 9-4 overall, 5-3 in the FCIAC and are putting themselves in position to receive a good seed for the upcoming FCIAC and CIAC Class LL postseason tournaments.

Senior center/forward Julia Monteiro, a tri-captain totaled seven points, five of which came during the second half, while senior point guard Ayanna Davenport added seven points, including two 3-pointers for the Cardinals.

This FCIAC game had a rough start for Greenwich, which was limited to two first-quarter points and trailed 8-2 following the first quarter. Yet the Cards found some rhythm offensively in the second quarter, thanks to stellar shooting from Utzinger.

“It was a little scary after the first quarter with only two points, it was a very low scoring first quarter and of course, it’s frustrating – but we were getting the looks, our shots just weren’t falling,” Greenwich coach Megan Wax said. “But I thought our defense today was just fantastic. We played really good man-to-man defense.”

Indeed, an impressive defensive effort throughout and key plays in crunch time propelled the Cards to their ninth victory. Receiving a pass in the low post, Xhekaj scored on a reverse layup, while being tightly guarded, giving GHS a 28-26 lead on New Canaan with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Rams took a 33-31 lead with 2:31 left to play in the game when center Claire Ognibene grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. Xhekaj made another basket in the low post, evening the score at 33-33 just 11 seconds later.

With just under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Xhekaj banked in another shot from close range, giving the host Cardinals the lead for good at 35-33.

“I was just thinking about how we were tied and I knew something had to be done,” Xhekaj said. “Whether it was kicking it to someone else, or making a move of my own.”

Monteiro and Davenport made one free throw each in the final minute of action, while Utzinger swished a pair of foul shots, putting GHS on top, 39-33 with only 30 seconds remaining.

“Our best wins are when it’s a team effort,” Monteiro said. “When everyone has points, steals and even when there is energy on the bench – that’s important to us. An important part of our win is having everyone scoring, everyone getting a shot – and then getting those good looks.”

New Canaan (7-5, 4-4 FCIAC) was paced by 12 points from Ognibene and 12 points by guard Fiona Mueller, who also converted two 3-point shots. Ognibene had eight first-half points, enabling the Rams to take advantages of 10-2 and 15-8. The Rams’ center was a tough matchup for the Cards, double-teamed when they could and relied on Xhekaj, Monteiro and junior forward Kate Baxendale for strong defense in the low post. Greenwich mostly played man-to-man defense against New Canaan.

“She is a really good post player and she’s super strong and tall,” Xhekaj said of guarding Ognibene. “It was more communication-based with me, Julia and Kate on how we can defend her and I think we did a great job of doing that.”

Said Monteiro: “The key was to double her once the ball got in and I had to leave my girl and someone else had to leave their girl. That was the only way to stop her and make it at least, more difficult for her.”

Ahead by six points after the first quarter, the Rams took a 10-2 advantage on Ognibene’s basket from the post in the opening minute of the second quarter. Later in the second quarter, a 3-pointer by forward Ceci Patterson put the visitors on top, 15-8. Utzinger then led the Cardinals back with her standout shooting. She swished consecutive shots from beyond the arc, pulling GHS to within, 15-14 at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter. A runner from the baseline from Utzinger put the hosts ahead, 16-15 in the final minute of the second quarter.

“Like every sport, there’s a mental piece to it too,” Wax said of Greenwich’s comeback. “In the first quarter when you are getting the looks and the shots aren’t falling it’s hard to not fall into that trap. As soon as she started hitting them, everyone kind of relaxed. Those shots came because we were able to move the ball and penetrate through the middle.”

Monteiro’s layup at the buzzer capped a 12-0 run, giving Greenwich a 20-15 halftime edge. The Rams made it 20-19 behind back-to-back baskets from Patterson the opening minute of the third quarter, but a free throw by sophomore Anna Lenschow and a layup from sophomore guard Juliette Pelham off a nice pass from Utzinger, put GHS ahead, 23-19. The home team entered the fourth quarter with a 24-21 lead.

The game remained close thereafter, with Greenwich earning the win due to stellar fourth-quarter defense and Xhekaj’s three key shots.

“She came up huge – unbelievable finishes – she had the reverse and a lot of contact under the rim,” Wax said. “To be able to finish off the backboard and try to get them in foul trouble was great. She is not somebody who will back off when the going gets tough, so she was great.”

Greenwich hopes to make it four wins in a row when it hosts a formidable Staples squad Friday at 7 p.m.

The Cards were also victorious against Hall High School on Jan. 20, registering a 64-37 triumph. Utzinger scored a game-high 18 points with two 3-pointers to power the victors.

Davenport poured in 13 points, 12 of which came during the first half in the winning effort. Pelham and Monteiro added eight points apiece, while senior guard/trii-captain Megan Geiger had seven points for the Cardinals against Hall. Baxendale contributed six points, senior guard Caroline McShea hit a 3-point shot and Xhekaj added two points for Greenwich.