Despite eleven 3-pointers for visiting Muhlenberg County on Saturday afternoon, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers built a big lead and withstood a 4th-quarter rally to knock off the Lady Mustangs 71-60.
The Lady Tigers connected on eight 3-pointers of their own to win their fourth game in five tries and move to 4-9 overall. Had Hoptown not been forced to forfeit games in which it self-reported the use of an ineligible player, the Lady Tigers would have a winning record at 7-6.
Hopkinsville jumped in front early and led by nine after four straight points for Shiyah Forte. Shaterrea Bellamy drilled a 3-pointer with 1:30 left and the Lady Tigers led 19-8 after the 1st quarter.
Faith Dansbury opened the 2nd quarter with a 3 and Hoptown looked set to blow the game open at 22-8, but the Lady Mustangs were back within three points after Aven Profitt splashed her third 3-pointer of the quarter with 3:40 left.
Hopkinsville responded with a 17-3 run to close the frame, including a pair of 3-pointers for Kahtavia Fleming and one each for Donnisha Flowers and Dansbury. The Lady Tigers went to the locker room with a 40-23 advantage.
Hopkinsville looked to be in control in the 3rd, stretching the lead to 55-34 after eight straight points for Shiyah Forte, and went to the 4th quarter with a 20-point cushion.
However, the Lady Mustangs didn’t go quietly. After Hoptown took its largest lead at 61-38 after a turnaround jumper by Flowers, Muhlenberg used a 12-0 run to trim the margin back to nine with 3:57 to play.
But after knocking off Christian County less than 24 hours before, the Lady Tigers still had enough left in the tank to seal the win. Dansbury hit a big corner 3 to push it back to 15 with 2:05 left and Hoptown couldn’t be caught from there.
Hopkinsville will return to the court on Monday for an 8th-District matchup with Fort Campbell.
Hopkinsville 19 21 17 14 — 71
Muhlenberg 8 15 14 23 — 60
Hopkinsville (4-9) — Flowers 19, Forte 15, Fleming 13, Dansbury 8, Bellamy 6, Pendleton 4, Cherry 2, Earthman 2, T. Green 2
Muhlenberg (7-9) — Profitt 26, Stewart 15, Fields 10, Wilkins 5 Boggess 2, Duvall 2
