MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner established itself early and scarcely looked back Thursday as it opened SSAC play with an 80-52 victory over Blue Mountain Christian. The Lady Eagles started hot with a
Keyarra Scottland layup and a
Ruthie Smith three to go up 5-0 just 46 seconds into the game. An 11-2 Faulkner run later in the quarter ran the lead to double digits by the 1:37 mark of the opening period.
The Lady Toppers opened the second on an 8-0 spurt to get the game within a point before the Eagles countered with the three-ball.
Morgan Holland DeWitt,
Addison Cantrell and
Sydney Steward each dropped triples to run the lead out to 10 with 6:12 remaining until halftime. A Smith and-1 layup and a Scottland make stretched the run to 14-0 and the lead to 32-17. Maddie Kirk briefly interrupted the Faulkner fireworks with a three of her own before another 8-0 run set the advantage at 20.
Halftime did little to cool the Lady Eagles as a 14-4 run in the third quarter got the lead as high as 28. The Toppers got to within 21 in the final period before a 7-0 run by Faulkner set the final margin.
The Lady Eagles shot better than 50 percent from the floor each of the first three quarters before slowing in the final frame. They ended the night with a 49.1 percent hit rate from the field, including 43.8 percent from the arc on 14 makes. Faulkner also won the rebound battle 35-25 while holding the Toppers to 31.5 percent from the floor.
Smith paced Faulkner with 19 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Scottland added 15 points and three assists.
Grace Anne Rose also scored 15 points.
Faulkner (6-1, 1-0 SSAC) hosts Tennessee Southern Saturday at noon before traveling to McKenzie, Tenn. to face Bethel Tuesday at 2 p.m.
