EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Games between Liberal and Hugoton have been very competitive in recent years, and for most of Tuesday’s entry in the series was within a pair of possessions either way. But the Lady Redskins pulled away late in the second quarter and early in the third, and maintained their lead for a 56-46 win.
Hugoton’s aggressive defense disrupted the Lady Red offense early, and the Lady Redskins struggled to get quality shots.
Sophomore post Maliyah Mullens also committed two early fouls and had to sit out most of the first quarter.
Without Mullens, the Lady Redskins couldn’t find a consistent attack to the basket, and by the end of the first quarter the Lady Eagles had an 11-8 lead. But Shamari Lewis took over in the second quarter and found her way into the paint. She scored 12 of Liberal’s 18 points in the period, and the Lady Redskins started to disrupt the Lady Eagle offense, and by halftime the Lady Redskins had a 26-19 lead.
Kylie Rhine became a scoring threat in the third quarter and dropped seven of Liberal’s 17 points in the period, and the Lady Redskins extended their lead to 43-33 to start the fourth quarter.
Fouls mounted in the fourth quarter, and the two teams combined for 19 free throw attempts with Hugoton making four of eight while Liberal made 10 of 11, and the Lady Redskins secured the 56-46 win.
Lewis led Liberal with 25 points, and Rhine had 12.
“It was a great win,” Liberal coach Brandi Fowler said. “As a team we came out tight in the first quarter and loosened up in the second. We turned defense into offense. It was a great team win.”
The Lady Redskins moved to 5-1 on the season and travel to Emporia Friday.
