Late rally by Mater Dei girls basketball team falls short against Bishop Ireton of Virginia in The Throne quarterfinals in New Jersey

Mater Dei couldn’t overcome a sluggish start from the field, in addition to McDonald’s All-American Addie Deal not competing, and a late comeback effort fell short for the Lady Monarchs in a 62-57 setback Thursday against the Cardinals of Bishop Ireton in Virginia in the quarterfinals at the third annual The Throne national girls basketball showcase at The Rink at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Cardinals advanced to compete against the Mustangs from Bishop McNamara in Maryland – a 60-53 winner Thursday over the Pirates of Palm Bay in Florida – at 4 p.m. EDT Friday in the semifinals.

Mater Dei made only one of 11 field-goal attempts in the opening quarter and never led at any point in the contest, the first game for the Lady Monarchs since a 67-57 loss March 8 against Etiwanda in the Southern California regional semifinals of the Open Division state playoffs.

Mater Dei had four athletes score in double figures, including 14 points each from sophomore Harmony Golightly and junior Kaeli Wynn, but the Lady Monarchs were unable to rally from a 38-24 deficit early in the third quarter.

Golightly made three 3-point field goals and Wynn hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Lady Monarchs, who shot 7 of 18 from behind the arc.

Harmony Golightly of Mater Dei girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of The Throne

After missing their first five 3-point attempts in the opening quarter, the Lady Monarchs shot 7 of 13 the rest of the way.

Wynn added five rebounds and a pair of steals in 28 minutes for the Lady Monarchs, competing for the second time since suffering a dislocated right kneecap Jan. 25 against Rancho Christian.

Wynn had seven points in her return to competition March 8 against Etiwanda, six weeks removed from suffering the knee injury.

Amaya Williams, a Grand Canyon commit, contributed 12 points and four rebounds, with UC Irvine-bound forward Nohe’Alani Stores adding 11 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for the Lady Monarchs, who cut the deficit to 48-42 entering the fourth quarter.

Devyn Kiernan, a Southern Utah commit, scored four points, with sophomore Stella Hoss contributing two points and seven rebounds for the Lady Monarchs, who allowed 34 points in the paint and surrendered 12 fast-break points to the Cardinals.

Theresa Hagans, a Pitt signee, led the Cardinals with 22 points, four steals and three rebounds, with McDonald’s All-American and North Carolina commit Nyla Brooks adding 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals to earn player of the game honors.

Amirah Anderson, a Boston College commit, had nine points, seven assists and four rebounds for the Cardinals, who turned 21 turnovers by the Lady Monarchs into 23 points.

Deal, an Iowa signee who did not participate Thursday for the Lady Monarchs, is still scheduled to compete April 1 in the McDonald’s All-American game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Deal, who was also recognized as a Jordan Brand Classic All-American and a Naismith High School All-American, is the seventh Mater Dei girls basketball player to be selected for the annual McDonald’s All-American game.