In a game of shifting momentum Friday at Hopkinsville High School, the host Lady Tigers closed the game on a 15-point swing to dispatch the Lady Blazers 72-58 and finish their 8th-District slate a game over .500.
The Lady Tigers took control early behind 12 points from Kahtahvia Fleming. Her third three-pointer stretched the lead to ten, and a steal and layup in the final seconds put Hoptown in front 22-10 after the opening frame.
Ma’Kaya Payton chipped in a pair of threes, giving the Lady Tigers five over the game’s first eight minutes.
However, the Lady Blazers battled back in the second, with Alicia Davis passing 1,000 points for her career with a layup with 5:58 left in the half. Lee Lee Love got going in the paint, posting 13 points and cutting the margin to a point at 36-35 on a putback to close the half.
Kennady Quarles opened the third quarter with a three-pointer for the Lady Blazers’ first lead of the game. Ta’Ria Sharber scored eight points in the frame for Hopkinsville, and her bucket down low put the Lady Tigers on top 46-43 before Quarles again tied the game with a three.
Another Quarles triple gave UHA its final lead early in the fourth, but it was all Lady Tigers the rest of the way. A 22-7 Hoptown run followed, with six points for Ronnajha McGee, five each from Payton and Hailee Moore, and four a piece by Fleming and Sharber.
Davis led all scorers with 27 and was joined in double figures by Love with 20 for the Lady Blazers.
Fleming connected on five three-pointers on the way to 23, Sharber had 16, McGee 13, and Payton finished with 11.
Hopkinsville improved to 7-12, 3-2 in district play, and will close out the regular season with games at Logan County and home against Crittenden County.
UHA slipped to 2-3 against district competition, 5-19 overall, and will host Paducah Tilghman on Tuesday.
University Heights 10 25 13 10 — 58
Hopkinsville 22 14 12 24 — 72
University Heights (5-19) — Davis 27, Love 20, Quarles 8, Bass 2, Hoosier 2
Hopkinsville (7-12) — Fleming 23, Sharber 16, McGee 13, Payton 11, Moore 7, Murray 2
