YSE File Photo
It has been a tough stretch of games for the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers and Saturday afternoon just added to that run. Russellville nearly let the game get away from them late due to cold free throw shooting in the fourth quarter. However, the Lady Panthers found the way to take a 68-64 overtime win over the Lady Tigers in Tiger Gym.
Hopkinsville got a big start from sophomore Laelah Watkins, who scored 8 points in the opening quarter, as the Lady Tigers took a 15-11 lead.
Russellville battled back in the second quarter and got to the lead. Freshman Mariyah Merriweather knocked down three shots from behind the arc as the Lady Panthers went into the break with a 28-27 lead.
Merriweather stayed hot after the break and the Lady Panthers needed every one of her points. The third quarter ended with Russellville up 45-42.
Hopkinsville made the move to get back in the game in the final quarter. Sophomore Dominique Allensworth scored 6 points in the fourth as the Lady Tigers pulled even at the end of regulation, 55-55. The Lady Panthers were their own worst enemy at the free throw line in the quarter, going just 4 of 11.
In the overtime, the Lady Panthers limited Hopkinsville to just one field goal and they knocked down enough free throws to pull out to the five-point win.
Hopkinsville was led by Laelah Watkins with 23 points, including an 11 of 11 performance at the free throw line. Serenity Ewing and Dominique Allensworth added 9 points each. Kaveyah White finished the game with 8 points.
Mariyah Merriweather was Russellville’s leading scorer with 21 points. Ja’eda Poindexter scored 13 points. DeMyiah Allen also hit double figures for the Lady Panthers with 11.
Hopkinsville (1-11) has now lost eight straight and will try to end that skid Tuesday night when the Lady Tigers go on the road to take on the Todd County Central Lady Rebels.
