PEDRO -- Back-to-back.

The Rock Hill Redwomen clinched at least a share of a second straight Ohio Valley Conference basketball championship by beating the River Valley Lady Raiders 44-39 Saturday.

"It's a good accomplishment for our seniors to go back-to-back," Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds said. "One of our goals was to win the league, and we put ourselves in a position to win it. And we did it by winning some close games. We didn't do anything easy. We always went down to the wire."

Five times this season the Redwomen had games decided by five or less points. But making the win this week against River Valley even more difficult was the weather conditions that left the school and players without electricity and heat.

"This week has been especially tough because most of the girls haven't had electricity. It's hard to concentrate on basketball when you have all those things staring you in the face," said Wilds.

Rock Hill finishes the season 15-5 overall and 8-2 in the OVC. The Redwomen can win the title outright with some help from River Valley.

The Lady Raiders host South Point on Monday. South Point is 7-2 in the OVC and needs a win to gain a share of the title.

Miranda Edwards scored 15 ponts and Julie Mootz 12 to lead Rock Hill. Marie Bamer had eight rebounds and Rachel Hartwig seven.

Nicole Watson had 19 points and Leslie Ward 10 for River Valley.

Mootz had 4 points in the first quarter as Rock Hill took a 10-9 lead. Edwards got 6 points in the second quarter as the lead remained one point at the half, 21-20.

Ashley Harris scored 5 of her 8 points in the third quarter as Rock Hill upped its lead to 32-28.

Mootz sank six foul shots and Edwards five as Rock Hill converted 12 of 20 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

"We had a lead and we were protecting it. They were in a zone and we just pulled them out it. They fouled us and fortunately we stepped up and made our free throws," Wilds said.

River Valley911811--39

Rock Hill10111112--44

RIVER VALLEY (9-10, 6-3):

Carrie Taylor 2 0 0-1 4, Kristina Naylor 0 0 0-0 0, Rachel Naylor 2 0 0-0 4, Leslie Ward 2 2 0-0 10, Nicole Watson 8 0 3-4 19, Nicola Storck 1 0 0-0 2, Ashley Davies 0 0 0-0 0, Becky Lyons 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15

2

3-5

39. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Taylor, K. Naylor.

ROCK HILL (15-5, 8-2):

Monica Bamer 0 0 1-2 1, Marie Bamer 1 0 3-6 5, Ashley Harris 1 1 3-5 8, Miranda Edwards 5 0 5-10 15, Julie Mootz 2 0 8-8 12, Martha Lambert 0 0 0-0 0, Keisha Rupp 0 0 0-0 0, Rachel Hartwig 1 0 1-3 3, Laura Ferrell 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10

1

21-34

44. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 14-15=29 (Marie Bamer 8, Hartwig 7). Steals: 11 (Marie Bamer 3, Harris 2). Turnovers: 16.