MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner took the lead early, built on it often and scarcely looked back in a 76-58 victory over Louisiana Christian Friday. After the Lady Eagles opened up a 20-10 lead by the end of the first quarter but watched as the Wildcats put together a 12-3 run to end the half. Trastasia Hester knocked down a shot with 5:12 to go in the half before Olivia Scott drained a three off a Hester assist to make it 25-20. Claire Borot hit a shot with 3:09 to go in the half to narrow it to 25-22. Scott then dropped a shot to cut the deficit for the Wildcats to one.

Faulkner got a little breathing room as Jacie Andrews set up Ashlyn Adkins for a three to push the lead to 28-24. Noa Fernandez Fuente answered exactly a minute later when she cashed in a Kieyoomia Benally pass for a three of her own to send the game to half with Faulkner up just 28-27.

The Lady Eagles gradually worked their lead up to four with 4:10 left in the third quarter before Morgan Holland dropped a three. After Borot matched the feat, Faulkner ended the quarter on a 12-0 run. Olivia Colson connected on a shot before Nequoia Adams fed Adkins for a three to move it to 49-40. Adams then hit a shot of her own for the 11-point lead. Colson then made four straight free throws before Adams added two to send Faulkner to the fourth with a 56-40 lead. Faulkner got the lead as high as 19 in the fourth quarter before Louisiana Christian worked it down to 11. The Lady Eagles then went on an 8-0 run to thwart the Wildcats' final run.
Borot finished with 15 points to lead Louisiana College while Fernandez Fuente had 14 and Benally scored 11.

Holland paced Faulkner with a career high 24 points to go along with 11 rebounds and three assists. Adkins added 16 points and 11 boards. Colson notched eight points and four rebounds.
Faulkner was a perfect 15 of 15 from the free throw line in the game. The Eagles also hit 43.5 percent of their shots from the field.

Faulkner (2-1) hosts Thomas Saturday at 5 p.m. in its second Jimmy Faulkner Classic game.