MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Faulkner offense played a game of runs and the defense bent but didn't break in a crucial 64-58 win over Blue Mountain Christian at Tine Davis Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
"Very happy to get the home win tonight against a really talented team from Blue Mountain," Coach
Reed Sutton said. "They are so dangerous every trip down the floor with their ability to shoot from behind the arc. Every night is tough in the SSAC and every win is a blessing."
After two free throws by the Lady Toppers (11-9, 4-8 SSAC) opened the scoring, the Lady Eagles (17-4, 9-2 SSAC) turned up the heat by tallying the next 12 points to kickstart a 20-4 run.
Kinlee Varnell scored first for Faulkner on a layup before assisting a
Neely Johns triple and collecting a steal to set up an
Angela Grant bucket.
Nequoia Adams then dished to Johns as the sophomore point guard fell down while driving into the paint, and the latter drained it from long-range to put her team up 10-2.
In the first start of her career, Johns added her third make from distance of the first quarter with 4:06 to go that made the Faulkner lead 17-6.
Lanie Henderson tallied a three of her own on the next Eagle possession. Trailing 20-6, the visitors scored nine of the last 13 points in the period, as Faulkner's lone field goal in the span was a triple from Adams.
In the first minute of the second quarter, Charmen Taylor committed three fouls for the Toppers, two personals and a technical, to put the Lady Toppers behind the eight-ball. Faulkner cashed in on the opportunities that came with the tech with two free throws and an Adams step-back jumper. The teams traded baskets before a span of nearly three minutes without a score before a Carmen Taylor three, the first of a 12-3 span that helped Blue Mountain Christian pull within 33-29 at the half. It was Alexis Wynn's turn to hit a trio of triples in a quarter, which sandwiched a lone three for the hosts by
Ella Jane Connell.
The Lady Toppers still held the momentum as the second half began, taking a 38-36 lead by scoring nine of the first 12 points of the half, which culminated in a Charnita Brooks triple. Grant tied it up with an offensive rebound and layup and then restored her team's lead with a mirror-image shot off the glass. These scores were the start of a 13-2 run on which Faulkner closed the third quarter, and did so with a bang on Johns's fourth make of the day from beyond the arc.
The visitors refused to go away, opening the final quarter with a 16-5 run that gave them a 56-54 lead with 3:18 left to play on Carissa Horton's long two via a fast break. However,
Evaiah Burrows answered the bell with a triple from the corner on the ensuing possession to give the Lady Eagles a lead they would not relinquish.
Grant followed by connecting on an offensive board and the and-one. After surrendering a basket and a turnover, the defense produced a turnover of its own before Burrows worked around two screens and converted a layup. Grant finished the night, her 10th double-double of the season and the 37th of her career, by putting back her own miss. She had 17 rebounds, 15 points and three blocks.
"
Angela Grant did
Angela Grant things," Sutton said. "She dominated the boards again tonight and was supremely efficient from the floor."
Johns filled in admirably for the injured
Morgan Holland, tying her career high of 14 points set against Bethel in November. Burrows also hit that mark, a season high mark, with five boards. Adams poured in 10 points, seven boards and four assists. Varnell rounded out the starting lineup with five points, four assists and two thefts.
"I thought we got a great spark from everyone who played, but two players stood out," Sutton stated. "Neely took advantage of her first start of the year and shot the ball with confidence. She helped us get off to a great start. Evaiah hit some really big shots for us late in the game when we were searching for baskets."
Brooks led Blue Mountain Christian with 18 points, while Wynn scored 11. Both were bench contributors, and each added six rebounds and a pair of steals. Charmen Taylor was the leading starter for the Toppers, reaching 14 points and six boards as well.
Faulkner caps off its week early with a Thursday night matchup at Brewton-Parker.
