By Andy Hutchison

WILTON–A big third quarter by visiting Staples girls basketball propelled the Wreckers to a 56-31 bounce-back win in the second of two games on consecutive nights.

On Wednesday, the Wreckers were coming off a 54-50 loss to visiting Fairfield Ludlowe the night before.

In the Wilton game, Stapes led 28-25 at the half before pouring it on, outscoring the Warriors 22-2 in the third quarter to seize control. The Wreckers improved to 12-2 overall and 7-2 in FCIAC play. Wilton fell to 2-12 and 1-8.

Freya Harvey scored 13 points, had four assists, grabbed six rebounds and had a pair of steals. Emma Asiel scored 11 points, had three assists and two rebounds. Marley Belzer recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with an assist, steal and block.

Chloe Smith recorded nine points to go along with an assist, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Addie Talbott had triple eights with eight points, rebounds and assist, as well as five assists and a block. Maeve Best logged seven points and three steals and added an assist, block and steal.

Just like a lopsided third quarter lifted Staples over Wilton it was a tough fourth stanza that did in the Wreckers the night before.

The game with Ludlowe was even 19-19 after one quarter and the Wreckers pulled ahead 32-30 at the half and 46-40 going to the fourth, but the Falcons outscored Staples 14-4 in the final stanza. Ludlowe improved to 5-6 and 5-3.

Harvey had 18 points, five assists, five rebounds and a steal. Smith recorded 16 points, two assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Asiel had 10 points, an assist, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Talbott added six points, two assists, four steals and a block. 

Riley Caney contributed five rebounds, an assist, four steals and two blocks. Best had four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a pair of blocks.

The Wreckers host Bridgeport Central for a Friday night clash at 7 p.m. Up after that is a big one Tuesday at Trumbull, also at 7.

The Wreckers are ranked fourth in Division II. Trumbull is 14-1 (9-1 in the FCIAC) and sits atop the FCIAC and D-II rankings; Trumbull just suffered its first loss, 53-46 to rival St. Joseph (11-3, 8-2), on Wednesday.