The Raiders sit on top of the standings in the Red Tier of the All-American Conference and possess an overall record of 16-2 so far.

“Their willingness to share the ball and be together,” Harding coach Frank Caputo said about the reasons for the Raiders’ success. “They hang around each other a lot, so they’re very comfortable with each other, and they want to play for each other.”

Their latest success came Monday evening, when the Raiders traveled to face the Fighting Irish in a non-conference game at Ursuline High School. Harding start off hot from inside the paint and cruised to a 68-44 victory on the road.

Caputo credits his players for what they’ve achieved this season.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Cara McNally shoots a three-pointer during the first quarter. She had a team-high 16 points for the Fighting Irish.

“Just attribute it to these girls,” he said. “These girls work hard, come to practice every day, and they come ready to go. It’s nice to have this group, they’re a good group of girls.”

Cara McNally and Paris Gilmore reached double-figures in scoring with 16 and 10, respectively, for the Irish.

Ursuline (5-13) coach Michael Kernan said his team has been tested this season, but starts on a clean slate each game.

“I told the kids after tonight, right now we are 0-0. I said, we’ve had the best preseason to prepare us offensively and defensively for our next so many games and get ready for tournament time.”

“We’ve had one of the toughest schedules out there, especially from a Division III aspect, and we knew today we were playing one of the best teams in the area.”

Faith Burch, a 6 foot-1 post, led Harding with a game-high 20 points.

“We actually had a really good (offensive) attack this game,” Burch said. “We were very aggressive and we were able to continue it all throughout the game, so I’m very proud of us.

“My team gets energy, and I just take for myself and we all pull through as a team, so it’s good. We all take the energy and we just pull through with it.”

Caputo wants his team to attack the paint.

“We put intensity on the board before we came out. They came out with a lot of intensity and we want to get the ball in transition and run.

“I think tonight was probably the best night we actually got out and ran the way we want to.”

Harding took an early 6-0 lead to force a timeout from the Ursuline bench. They have a 19-7 lead over the Fighting Irish at the end of the first quarter and did not trail a single time during the contest.

Kamarah Bender had 16 points for the Raiders, and said that her fellow upperclassmen bring a lot to the table for their team.

“I think the experience that me, Faith (Burch) and Diamond Phillips all have, being starters since freshman year, we just are able to adjust to the game really well and figure out what’s going on.”

She also tries to take up a leadership role with the underclassmen as a junior.

“I just try to encourage and tell them what’s right and what’s wrong, and try to be nice about it,” she said. “Just being there for them, so when I’m gone, they’ll be able to fill in the shoes.”

Phillips chipped in with 11 points for the Raiders.

Meanwhile, Burch sees positive things ahead for Harding (16-2).

“I see that we’re very strong and continuing our streak and wins,” she said. “We have the goal to make it to state.”