Cardinals girls basketball team topples Westhill, improves record to 17-1

By David Fierro on February 17, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Greenwich senior forward Kate Baxendale in action for the Cardinals during a recent game against Ridgefield. Baxendale helped power the Cardinals’ offense in a recent win vs. Westhill.

Another outstanding defensive performance and stellar offensive effort led the Greenwich High School girls basketball team to another victory.

The Cardinals ran their record to a spectacular 17-1 by rolling to a resounding 40-8 road win over Westhill in an FCIAC game held on Feb. 14. With two games left in the regular season, Greenwich is in a three-way tie with Ridgefield and Fairfield Warde for first place in the FCIAC.

Greenwich, Ridgefield and Warde are each 12-1 in the FCIAC. The Cardinals travel to Fairfield Warde tonight (Feb. 17) at 7 p.m. in a game for first place in the FCIAC.

In Greenwich’s win over Westhill, it held an 18-0 lead after the first quarter and 29-4 advantage at halftime. The Cardinals have shut out several opponents in the first quarter so far this season. Nine players scored points for the Cardinals against the Vikings.

Senior forward Kate Baxendale and junior forward Lauren Judge scored six points apiece to pace Greenwich’s balanced scoring effort.

**Photo by Dan Utzinger:** Elsa Xhekaj of Greenwich in action during a win vs. Danbury.

“It was a great team win with valuable contributions from our entire roster,” GHS coach Megan Wax said. “We focused on our ball movement and timing of our cuts offensively and defensively. We worked on improving our help ‘D’ and zone work.”

Senior guard/captain Alyssa Gath scored five points, while junior guard Madi Utzinger, freshman guard Elsa Xhekaj, freshman center Zuri Faison and senior guard Lauren Dionis scored four points apiece for the Cardinals. Junior guard Mikayla Kiernan had two points for the Cardinals, whose only loss this season was to Ridgefield – a one-point loss at the buzzer.

After visiting Fairfield Warde tonight (Feb. 17), the Cardinals will close out their regular season on Feb. 19 with a home game versus Brien McMahon.

“There was great energy and hustle from everyone heading into the last week of the season,” Wax said following the Cards’ win against Westhill.

To the left, Madi Utzinger of Greenwich dribbles the ball against Ridgefield – photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography. To the right, Zuri Faison of the Cardinals takes a shot in the lane versus Danbury – photo by Dan Utzinger.