Greg Yamamoto | SL

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_22010602_RoosFHs_0184.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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MAKIKI – Roosevelt used a relenting full-court press to run past visiting Farrington, 44-22, in an OIA East matchup Wednesday night.

The Rough Riders collected 23 steals and forced the Governors into 43 turnovers to improve to 4-0 atop the league standings.

"We have a little bit of depth in our perimeter (players)," said Roosevelt coach Joe Cho. "If we just stay out of foul trouble, we're pretty decent. My girls can put pressure, and as long as we pressure teams, I think we're sitting pretty decent."

Seven different players had two steals or more for Roosevelt, with senior Makayla Furuto leading the way with six points and six steals off the bench.

Furuto also nailed a corner triple for the Rough Riders' first points of the game and had a pair of second-quarter assists to reserve forward Tanya Paia (eight points) to help Roosevelt take a 9-4 lead after trailing 4-0.

"She's actually one of our captains, but for me I like her to come off the bench and she's fine with that," Cho said of Furuto.

"She brings more energy and she's tough on defense. She's a motor, she just keeps going."

Leading the Rough Riders in points was freshman forward Makelah Richardson with 14 points, five rebounds and five steals. She had back-to-back second-quarter baskets to put the Rough Riders up, 13-6, but it was the third quarter when she really dominated.

Roosevelt's first three points of the second half came on free throws before Richardson scored eight straight points to give the Rough Riders a 26-8 lead with 4:42 to play in the third quarter.

Some highlights included intercepting a baseline press around half court and taking it all the way to the basket and an isolation play on the left wing when Richardson blew past her defender. She also scored on a runner just before the end of the quarter to make the score 35-11 heading into the fourth as the Rough Riders outscored the visitors, 20-3, in the period.

Farrington outscored Roosevelt in the fourth quarter, but the game was already out of reach and the Governors (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season.

Alyssa Kamealoha led the visitors in the loss with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Jorja Williams was also a presence in the post defensively and finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.