AHOSKIE – They keep improving.

After a stellar performance in the annual News-Herald Holiday Classic, Joan McCullough’s Lady Bears continued their recent strong run here Tuesday night.

The Lady Bears rolled to a 51-42 win over Northeastern High School, securing their second win in the last three outings and the first Northeastern Coastal Conference win of the year.

McCullough said she was pleased with the way her team played Tuesday night and with the effort they’ve given of late.

HCHS got off to a strong start Tuesday when Chiquitta Holloman hit the first six points of the game for her team in pushing the Bears to a 6-2 advantage. Holloman had an outstanding performance, hitting for 25 points, pulling down 16 rebounds and recording eight blocked shots.

Northeastern appeared to be making a game of it when Gina Jordan hit two free throws to make it 6-4, but the Lady Bears rolled off 12 of the next 14 points to take a double-digit lead.

Holloman sandwiched a pair of hoops around a triple off the hands of Kenya Cofield. Cofield then hit another three-pointer and a bucket to help complete the run with HCHS ahead 18-6.

Ashley Weaver started the second quarter with a bucket for the Lady Bears to make it 20-7, but the lead didn’t get higher as the Lady Eagles scored eight of the next 10 points to get back in the game. Jordan had four of the eight points with Crystal McDaniels and Tiffany Perry contributing the other two hoops.

Cofield had four of the final six points of the half to help HCHS take a 29-21 advantage into the intermission.

The Lady Bears rolled off seven straight to open the second half, getting three points from Lannette Robinson and two each from Cofield and Holloman to push the lead to 36-21.

The Lady Bears led 42-26 at the end of the quarter.

Northeastern scored the first five points of the fourth period to get within 42-31, but Hertford County held them at bay and secured the victory.

The Lady Bears improved to 3-7 on the season and 1-2 inside the Northeastern Coastal Conference heading into Saturday’s contest with Rocky Mount.

Lady Bears (51): Chiquitta Holloman – 25, Kenya Cofield – 18, L. Robinson – 3, J. Wilder – 3, A. Weaver – 2

Lady Eagles (42): Gina Jordan – 16, C. McDaniels – 8, S. Lee – 8, D. Windebone – 6, M. Whidbee – 2, T. Perry – 2