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The Vikings improved to 15-2 overall and 13-2 in the league while running their winning streak to 12 straight. Danbury (16-1, 14-1) had its 35-game win streak against Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference teams halted at home. Its last loss to a team in the league came Feb. 19, 2011, against New Canaan in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
“Defense was huge, keeping them to 35 points is an unbelievable accomplishment,’’ Westhill coach Mike King said. “The kids worked incredibly hard. They stepped up their game against a great Danbury team.”
D’Alessandro topped the 1,000 mark when she scored on a driving layup off an assist from Steph Roones with 2:17 to play. The basket gave the Vikings a 44-31 lead and ended whatever drama was left. It was D’Alessandro's final basket, and she ended the night with 1,001 career points.
“I started a little countdown with about 150 points to go,’’ she said. “It’s just awesome to get it tonight. More than that, I’m just proud of my team for beating the No. 1 team in the FCIAC.”
Westhill took control in the second quarter when it outscored Danbury at 18-7 for a 22-16 halftime lead. The Vikings took a 29-16 lead with 4:46 left in the third quarter on D’Alessandro’s three-point play. The Hatters were within 32-29 after three quarters.
Westhill put it away in the fourth. D’Alessandor’s three-pointer from the left wing gave the Vikings a 40-31 lead with 3:04 to play, and the Hatters never challenged again.
The Vikings did a terrific defensive job on Danbury’s high-scoring twin guards, Rachel and Rebecca Gartner. They combined for just 14 points, 12 under their season average. Uniqua Tucker scored 11 to lead Danbury.
“We knew how good a team they were,’’ D’Alessandro said. “We practiced harder, we came in more focused. We knew they were the best team in the league. We wanted to come in and show we could hang with them.”
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