NORWOOD — Following a long layoff, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of things.

Playing just its third game of the season, Norwood’s girls basketball team needed no time to find its groove.

Sophomore standout Ellen Baranowski registered a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) while junior Lillianna Cordani dropped 17 points as the Mustangs remained perfect Saturday with a decisive 62-33 home win over Bridgewater-Raynham.

Looking to set the tone early, the Mustangs (3-0) opted to turn to a full-court press right out of the gate. The Trojans (2-4) were flustered and struggled to find an offensive tempo. Norwood immediately constructed a 10-point lead in short order, as junior forward Raegan Curran drilled a three to provide the Mustangs a 15-5 advantage just 4:35 into play.

“We play better when we’re up-tempo right from the start,” Norwood coach Kristen McDonnell said. “It just gets us in a rhythm, and that’s just kind of the name of our game, just being gritty and getting after it from the start. I give our team a lot of credit, because we had it seemed like 20 practices in a row without a game. So, they really push each other every day, and I think that’s a credit to what they bring in practice every day.”

When Bridgewater-Raynham started to hit shots offensively as the first half wore on, Norwood turned to Cordani for an answer. The junior guard caught fire from the field herself, tallying 12 points over the first two quarters as the Mustangs built a 33-20 lead at the break.

“Me and Ellen, we work really well with each other,” Cordani said. “But it’s not just us out there. It’s all of our other teammates. When they hit big shots, it gets everybody really excited, into the game and ready to play.”

Norwood’s Ariannah Blake, left, dribbles the ball ups the court against Bridgewater-Raynham’s Sidney White, right, during the first quarter of Saturday’s game. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

As the second half got underway, Bridgewater-Raynham attempted to take Cordani out of the game. Even with additional pressure defensively, the Trojans surrendered a quick 6-0 run to the Mustangs to begin the third quarter. Then, Baranowski found a second gear and decided to take things over. The sophomore forward registered eight points in the frame alone, helping her team build a convincing 50-30 lead entering the final stanza. Norwood would coast from that point on.

“We really wanted to send a message to all the other teams in the league, saying, ‘We’re here, we want to beat you and we want to be the best,’” Baranowski said. “I think coming out strong in our first few games showed them that we’re ready to play them.”

Camden Strandberg paced Bridgewater-Raynham with 12 points to go with seven rebounds.

Bridgewater-Raynham’s Camden Strandberg, right, makes a pass around Norwood’s Raegan Curran, left, during the first quarter of Saturday’s game. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

The schedule ramps up for Norwood starting this week as the Mustangs enter Tri-Valley League play. It won’t get any easier whatsoever, though, as they will make a trip to take on an archrival and one of the state’s best in Medfield this Monday.

“I think we just need to stay really competitive and be ready,” Cordani said. “Not take our foot off the gas. We need to keep pushing each other in games and in practice, and always be 100 percent ready to go. We can’t let it get to our heads that we’re 3-0. Just continue to play, and play strong and hard.”