DAVID RANSON/Appeal News Service Guards Megan Kitty of Carson, left, and Olie Fowler of Fallon fight for a loose ball during the first half of their non-league basketball game in Fallon.
FALLON - Carson girls' basketball coach Ric Garcia said Tuesday's game against Fallon looked like "vacation ball."
Lady Wave coach Scott Meihack said his girls need more work in the gym, especially with league play resuming for Fallon on Saturday.
Nevertheless, the Senators dominated the Greenwave, 51-31, in a non-league game at Fallon's Elmo Dericco Gym.
Carson improves to 10-3, while Fallon drops to 1-9.
The Senators' sluggish play in the first half bothered Garcia.
"I told them don't let the press keep you out of form ... stay with what we do," he said of his halftime talk to his players.
The Senators responded with better shot selection in a 29-point second half.
Garcia said Carson recently played four games in a tournament that ended Saturday. He said his girls' play Tuesday night was frustrating.
"We missed a lot of layups and quite a few free throws. We still didn't put the points in we should have," Garcia said.
Although Carson's free throw shooting was cold at first, the Senators finished the game 15 of 22.
Missed shots and turnovers affected both teams in the first quarter. Jeannie Gandolfo, who scored 10 points for Fallon, swished a 20-foot shot for the Wave. Despite numerous missed shots and five turnovers, the Senators then took the lead on an 11-0 run to end the quarter.
The Senators scored four points on turnovers with baskets coming from Brandi Vega and Sarah Evans.
The Senators' full court press rattled Fallon in the first quarter as the Wave committed eight turnovers and were forced to take their shots outside the paint.
"The bottom line is when another team plays with relentless intensity, we're not confident with our offensive skills," Meihack said.
Fallon appeared to hit its stride in the second quarter with a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 13-9. Olie Fowler, Sara Parsons and Gandolfo each scored.
The Senators didn't fold. Carson finished the quarter with nine unanswered points capped by Christa Casci's 3-point shot from the right side. Carson's four point lead rapidly expanded to a 22-9 advantage at halftime.
"They got a 3 and a few shots on us to go ahead by 13 points," Meihack said.
Garcia said it took some time for his players to become focused.
"Part of it is settling down and not panicking," he said.
Carson controlled the boards better in the third quarter and worked the ball inside more effectively.
Freshman center Danielle Peacon scored six points in a 13-4 surge. At one time the Senators had a 22-point lead, 35-13. Peacon led Carson with 11 points.
Fallon closed the quarter with the final six points, three each from Parsons and Gandolfo. Parsons finished the game with 12 points, the third time in five games she has led the Greenwave.
Both teams played fairly evenly in the fourth quarter with Carson outscoring Fallon 16-12.
"We're still a team that has to improve," Garcia said.
Kaitlin Burroughs, Anna Macquaire and Gina Bianchi each added eight points for the Senators.
Meihack said he saw improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
"I am disappointed we didn't win, but I'm proud of the defensive intensity."
He also said Fallon improved on its free throw shooting, making 9 of 17.