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McLean erased a fourth-quarter deficit and briefly seized the lead, but Wakefield answered in the closing minutes to hand the Highlanders a 53-50 home loss on Jan. 16.

The narrow defeat marked a significant turnaround for McLean after its 50-19 loss to Washington-Liberty.

Wakefield opened the game with a three-pointer and later took an 11-8 advantage. McLean’s freshmen responded before the first quarter ended, with Olivia Callanen and Elizabeth Burnison each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Highlanders a 15-11 lead.

“We changed our sets a little and it paid off,” head coach Pat Deegan said. “It allowed our players to get into scoring positions more easily and execute plays more effectively.”

The teams traded control throughout the second quarter. Sophomore point guard Emilia Alecsic hit a bank shot for McLean, but Wakefield countered with a three-pointer and two free throws. Junior point guard Cora Stevens then sank a three-pointer to keep the Highlanders close.

Wakefield used aggressive drives and accurate foul shooting to take a 29-28 lead into halftime.

“We definitely improved in several areas tonight,” Deegan said. “The girls were making smart decisions under pressure and playing hard on both ends of the court.”

Freshman small forward Tessie Morneau tied the game at 30 with a layup early in the third quarter. The Warriors quickly regained control through outside shooting and free throws, building a 42-35 advantage by the end of the period.

“We knew we had to step up our offense and keep the pressure on,” Alecsic said.

McLean mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter. Callanen made another three-pointer, while Alecsic added two from long range to shrink Wakefield’s lead. Stevens then scored with only minutes remaining to put the Highlanders ahead 50-49.

The Warriors delivered the final response, hitting a quick three-pointer and adding a free throw to escape with the 53-50 victory.

McLean’s bench and coaches remained vocal throughout the game, repeatedly chanting “Defense!” as the Highlanders fought until the closing seconds.

“Whether it’s a blowout or a close game, the girls love to play,” Deegan said. “That enthusiasm carried them tonight and kept them fighting until the very end.”

Stevens said the Highlanders played with more aggression and created better shots as a team. She also pointed to McLean’s ability to overcome a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.

The Highlanders will try to build on the performance in their next matchup against the Yorktown Patriots.