Two big runs turned out to be the difference in the game between the Dawson Springs Panthers and the Heritage Chrsitian Academy Lady Warriors Friday night. Dawson Springs used 17-0 runs in the first quarter and the third quarter to cruise past the Lady Warriors 50-9 in Hopkinsville.
Dawson Springs, sparked by its defensive pressure, scored the first 17-points of the game and took a 19-2 lead after the opening quarter. The big story was the turnovers for the Lady Warriors, who gave the ball up 14 times in the first eight minutes.
Baylee Swatzell was on the front of the pressure for the Lady Panthers and had 8 points in the quarter, most coming on layups after HCA turnovers.
Neither team could get much going in the second quarter, a combination of missed shots and ball-handling issues. Dawson Springs inched the lead out to 24-5 at the break.
With the score 27-7 early in the third, the Lady Panthers scored the final 13 points of the quarter to blow the lead out to 40-7. Briley Sawyer gave Dawson Springs a big boost with six points in the third.
The Lady Panthers finished off their second 17-0 run of the night by scoring the first four points of the final quarter to extend the lead to 44-7.
With the running clock in play, the rest of the game ran by quickly as Dawson Springs closed out the 41-point win.
Briley Sawyer led the Lady Panthers with 12 points, including two made 3-pointers. Alieah Cook also hit double figures with 10, nine of them in the second half. Baylee Swatzell added 9 points and 9 rebounds. Ashtyn Swatzell also had 9 points for the night.
Allison Craft had all of the made field goals for HCA and scored 6 points. Ava DeJager ended up with 2 points and 17 rebounds for the Lady Warriors.
In winning for the third time in the last four games, Dawson Springs improves to 6-12 and will be back in action Monday on the road at Webster County.
Heritage Christian drops to 3-13 with the loss. The Lady Warriors are back at home Monday night against Community Christian.
