Samira Lee Sing scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Bloomfield to a 44-40 upset victory over Montclair Kimberley in the quarterfinal round of the Essex County Invitational on Saturday.
The 22nd-seeded Bengals (6-15) overcame an early deficit and used a strong third quarter to secure the win over the 19th-seeded Cougars (11-8). Bloomfield outscored MKA 14-8 in the pivotal third period to take control of the game.
Isabella Bernhard added 10 points for Bloomfield, while Audrey McLaughlin contributed eight points and six rebounds. Inez Brewster pulled down seven rebounds and went 4-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Keira Field led Montclair Kimberley with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Elizabeth Wager scored 13 points and recorded a game-high seven steals. Sydney Kittles also had a strong performance on the boards with 14 rebounds and added six points.
Despite Montclair Kimberley’s advantage in rebounding (36-25) and steals (13-10), Bloomfield’s balanced scoring attack and timely defense proved to be the difference. The Bengals have now won three of their last four games and advance to the semifinals next Saturday.
The game remained close throughout, with MKA holding a slim 18-18 lead at halftime before Bloomfield took control in the second half. The Cougars attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bengals 14-12, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.