Samuelson lifts Mater Dei past Bishop Gorman

Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson drives around Bishop Gorman's Madison Washington during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson scored 32 points against Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Emma Torbert drives through a Bishop Gorman defender during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei players cheer from the bench late in Friday's Nike Extravaganza game against Bishop Gorman at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei forward Marina La Puzza scrambles after a loose ball during the first quarter of Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson drives around Bishop Gorman's Madison Washington during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei guard Andee Velasco looks to pass during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game against Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Andee Velasco, left, and Marina LaPuzza swarm a Bishop Gorman player during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei guard Andee Velasco drives to the basket after grabbing a loose ball during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game against Bishop Gorman at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Emma Torbert chases after a loose ball during the second quarter of Friday's Nike Extravaganza game against Bishop Gorman at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei's Jayda Adams, left, and Nikki Freeman, right, swarm a Bishop Gorman player during Friday's Nike Extravaganza game at Mater Dei.

By Andrew Turner | Orange County Register

February 6, 2015 at 11:22 p.m.

SANTA ANA – The Mater Dei girls basketball team withstood a tough test Friday night and looked to show its home crowd, as well as others, why it’s the top-ranked team in the nation.

Led by Connecticut-bound Katie Lou Samuelson, the Monarchs defeated Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, 60-49, in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High.

The Monarchs (24-1), gearing up for a run at CIF-SS and state championships, welcomed the challenge from the second-ranked team in Nevada.

“It’s great for us to have a good team like (Bishop Gorman) come out from Las Vegas right before the playoffs,” Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan said. “We needed a test like this. Win or lose, it can only help us.”

Samuelson finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Monarchs to their 20th consecutive victory.

The senior came out firing in the first quarter. She hit her first three shots from behind the arc and scored 13 points in the frame.

Mater Dei built up its lead with proficient shooting from deep. The Monarchs outscored the Gaels by 15 points from behind the 3-point line.

Mater Dei also outshined Bishop Gorman (18-4) at the free-throw line, converting its foul shots at an 86 percent clip compared to 54 percent by the Gaels.

Andee Velasco, Jayda Adams and Nikki Freeman were perfect from the free-throw stripe.

“We have guards, we have shooters and we have post, which we haven’t had in the past,” said Velasco, who had six points and three assists on her birthday. “That really helps us out. It makes us more diverse.”

Bishop Gorman fell behind, 44-22, but it used its size to make a late comeback. Alaysia Robinson, Madison Washington and Skylar Jackson combined for 10 offensive rebounds as the Gaels used 10 second-chance points to cut the Monarchs’ lead to 48-40 in the fourth quarter.

Samuelson agreed with Kiernan, who expressed concern with the way Mater Dei has been closing out games recently.

“I think that’s one of our biggest weaknesses,” she said. “We’ve got to come through more. In the last league game, we’ve really got to pick it up or we know we’re not going to be able to win.”