LASKER- Northeast Academy scored 14 unanswered points in the first half to pull out of Lawrence’s reach as the Lady Eagles won their first Tarheel Independent Conference game 44-33.

Senior Betty Edwards led all scorers with 18 points. Ashtyn Mizelle scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Warriors.

Lawrence took an early lead after baskets by Casey Belch and Kendra Spruill. Jennifer Sykes then took LeAnn Barnes’ pass in for a basket to get Northeast on the board. The teams exchanged points before Northeast went on a 14-0 run, including consecutive three-pointers by Edwards. The run extended into the second quarter as Northeast took a 19-8 lead.

“In the beginning of the game we were pushing things that weren’t there,” explained Northeast Head Coach Joella Brown. “We started playing smarter in the second quarter, blocking out better and making good passing choices.”

A free throw by LeAnne Eubanks ended the Lady Eagles run. Lacy Pfieffer added a basket and Edwards sank two foul shots before Mizelle’s bucket ended Lawrence’s scoring drought from the floor.

Molly Hargrave and Pfieffer scored, stretching the Northeast lead to 16 (27-11). A free throw by Danielle Davis and trey at the buzzer from Mizelle pulled Lawrence within 12 at the half.

“Our girls didn’t handle the pressure defense in the second quarter, said Lawrence Head Coach Jack Williford.

The Lady Warriors also struggled with turnovers, committing 13 in the first half.

The teams traded baskets in the third quarter with Northeast maintaining a double-digit lead. Lawrence scored five straight points to end the third quarter to pull within 12 (35-23).

The Lady Warriors outscored Northeast 10-9 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as the Lady Eagles took a 44-33 victory.

In Junior Varsity action the Lady Eagles earned their first conference win with a 34-18 victory over Lawrence. Ashton Liverman led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Kaylen Rose with nine. Hayden Thompson was Lawrence’s leading scorer with 12 points.

Lady Eagles (44): Betty Edwards – 18, M. Hargrave – 7, J. Sykes – 6, L. Pfieffer – 6, C. Burgess – 5, T. Cocke – 2

Lady Warriors (33): Ashtyn Mizelle – 9, C. Belch – 8, D. Stokesbury – 4, L. Eubanks – 3, A. Lyle – 3, K. Spruill – 2, T. Sexton – 2, D. Davis – 2