Turnovers and wayward free-throw shooting nearly led to a second-half collapse on Thursday for the University Heights Academy girls’ basketball team, but the Lady Blazers did just enough to hold off Dawson Springs for a 64-62 victory.
UHA completed a season sweep of the Lady Panthers to improve to 4-13 with a visit from Livingston Central coming up on Saturday. The Lady Blazers fell 59-43 to the Lady Cardinals earlier this season in Smithland.
Alecia Davis scored six points in the first quarter, and her layup with :35 left gave the Lady Blazers a 13-6 lead. UHA opened the second frame on a 14-3 run, capped by six straight points for Lee Lee Love. Love posted 16 in the quarter to finish with 20 at the half, and the Lady Blazers doubled up Dawson Springs 36-18 at the break.
However, the Lady Panthers extended their defense and began to force the Lady Blazers into turnovers in the second half. Dawson Springs got as close as 43-32 after a layup by Abby Ward, but Davis closed the quarter with her only three-pointer of the game for a 15-point UHA advantage.
Dawson Springs continued to chip away behind ten points from Ward in the fourth quarter. Her blocked shot and layup at the other end had the Lady Panthers within three at 62-59 with just over two minutes to play. Gracie Harper knocked down a pair of three-pointers and scored nine points in the comeback before fouling out with :34 left.
UHA twice missed the front end of a one-and-one to leave the door open, and the lead was only two points after Macy Drennan hit one of two free throws. The Lady Panthers had the ball with a chance to tie or take their first lead of the night, but after turning it over, they were forced to foul with nine seconds to play.
Kennady Quarles stepped to the line and calmly knocked down both free throws to seal the win. Dawson Springs added a putback bucket at the buzzer for the final margin.
Love finished with a game-high 29 for the Lady Blazers, followed by Davis and Quarles with 11 each.
Ward scored 23 to lead the Lady Panthers, including 17 in the second half. Harper scored 16 after the break to finish with 21.
Dawson Springs 8 10 19 25 — 62
University Heights 13 23 16 12 — 64
Dawson Springs (5-13) — Ward 23, Harper 21, Drennan 4, McCoy 3, Oldham 3, Back 2, Hoover 2
University Heights (4-13) — Love 29, Davis 11, Quarles 11, Hoosier 6, Dilday 4, Bass 3
