The University Heights Academy girls’ basketball team weathered some hot shooting early on from visiting Heritage Christian Academy on Monday before steadily pulling away for a 72-40 victory.
The Lady Blazers improved to 1-6 with a trip to Livingston Central coming up on Tuesday. HCA slipped to 1-3 and won’t face KHSAA competition again until a home matchup with Dawson Springs on January 7.
HCA used the deep ball to build an early lead. Hallie Zieg knocked down a three, and Kate St. Martin splashed a pair from behind the arc on back-to-back possessions to build a 10-4 advantage.
However, UHA battled back to tie it at 12-12 after Kennedy Quarles’ second three-pointer of the frame. UHA closed the quarter on an 8-2 run, capped by a jumper and a steal and layup by Alecia Davis, to lead 20-14.
A Davis layup gave UHA a double-digit lead and forced an HCA timeout, but the Lady Warriors battled back to within six at 28-22 after a Zieg three-pointer and two free throws by Liana Carr.
Another spurt to close the quarter, including four points from Lee Lee Love and a triple for Quarles, put the Lady Blazers in front 37-25 at the halftime break.
UHA was in control throughout the second half, stretching the margin to 21 points after a pair of layups off steals by Davis. Zieg nailed a three-pointer at the third quarter horn, but HCA still trailed 52-35 with a quarter to play.
Quarles sank her fifth three-pointer of the game, and Davis scored six points to help UHA outscore the Lady Warriors 20-5 the rest of the way. The Lady Blazer’s 70 points are the most they’ve scored since a 76-46 victory over Dawson Springs during the 2017-18 season.
Quarles led all scorers with 24, followed by Davis with 22 and Love with 16.
Craft led HCA with 15 points, and Zieg finished with 12.
Heritage Christian 14 11 10 5 — 40
University Heights 20 17 15 20 — 72
Heritage Christian (1-3) — Craft 15, Zieg 12, St. Martin 7, Robinson 3, Carr 2, Thompson 1
University Heights (1-6) — Quarles 24, Davis 22, Love 16, Acree 2, Bass 2, Dilday 2, Hoosier 2
