To say the Heritage Christian Academy Lady Warriors got things rolling in the second half of play at Fort Campbell Thursday night might be understating it just a little. The Lady Warriors broke open a tie game at the half with a 23-0 run to open the second half of play and then rolled to a 57-18 win over the Lady Falcons.
The run was triggered by several factors. One, the Lady Warriors got into a much better offensive rhythm in the second half. Two, the Lady Falcons, who were already down to just seven players and their backup point guard, lost that point guard, Charlize Cruz, to what appeared to be, at the time, severe leg cramps in the opening moments of the second hald.
Thirdly, the Lady Warriors, who did not make a three in the first half, got their long-range shooting eye working, and knocked down six shots from behind the arc.
In addition to the big run to open the second half, HCA finished by scoring the final sixteen points of the game.
Behind scoring from Hallie Zieg and Bailey Craft, Heritage Christian jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Fort Campbell, led by Charlize Cruz, fought back and trailed only 12-8 after the opening quarter.
Cruz battled to keep the Lady Falcons in the game in the second quarter. She scored six points in the quarter, and the Lady Falcon defense limited HCA to just four points as Fort Campbell came back to tie the game at 16-16. Cruz had scored 12 of the Lady Falcons’ 16 first half points and ran the show at the point. So, when she went down early in the second half, the Lady Falcons, who were already few in numbers due to injuries and other matters simply had nowhere to turn.
HCA would lead 41-17 when the third quarter ended then cruised it out to the final 39 point margin.
Hallie Zieg finished the night with 20 points for the Lady Warriors, including three made 3-pointers in the second half. Kate St. Martin scored 19 points. Bailey Craft added 12 for the Lady Warriors.
Charlize Cruz’s 12 topped the list for Fort Campbell. Trinity Scott added three points.
HCA – 12 4 25 16 — 57
FTC – 8 8 1 1 — 18
Heritage Christian – Zieg 20, St. Martin 19, Craft 12, Carr 4, Robson 2
Fort Campbell – Cruz 12, T. Scott 3, Ezceman 2, S. Scott 1
