It was the first game of the season, and it looked like it.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers opened the season with a 71-43 spanking of the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats Saturday at the Harold Conley Sports Center.

Despite the easy win, head coach Amy Hughes wasn't impressed.

"We won, but we didn't play very well," Hughes said. "But that's to be expected for a first game. We've got a long way to go and lot of work ahead of us."

Sara Hacker and Andrea "Rudy" Rudmann, the only two returning starters, combined for 45 points to lead Ironton. Hacker had 23 points and eight rebounds while Rudmann scored 22 points.

Danielle Henderson added 11 points to the winning effort and Mandi Boykin had 8 points and six assists in her varsity debut.

Whiteoak's Jackie Houke had a game-high 29 points including four 3-point goals. She was the only Wildcat in double figures.

Ironton led just 11-10 after the first quarter, but the defense began to force turnovers as Ironton outscored Whiteoak 23-9 in the second quarter to grab a 34-19 halftime cushion.

Hacker scored 11 points in the second quarter. Rudmann and Boykin added 6 points each.

Although Hacker scored 8 more points in the third quarter, Whiteoak stayed close at 50-36.

Rudmann scored 7 points and Henderson 5 and the defense held Whiteoak to just 7 points in the fourth quarter to win going away.

"Our defense did a pretty good job at times. It was the difference," Hughes said.

Ironton plays at Rock Hill Monday.

In the reserve game, Ironton won 38-10 as Tenielle Young scored 13 points.

Whiteoak109177-43

Ironton11231621-71

WHITEOAK (0-1):

Bonnie Palmer 2 0-2 4, Jackie Houke 7 4 3-5 29, Brooke Jolley 1 0 1-2

3, Trisha Houke 1 0 2-2 4, Brandi Wallace 1 0 1-2 3, Amy Wallace 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 13

4

5-13

43. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Amy Wallace.

IRONTON (1-0):

Andrea Rudmann 5 2 6-7 22, Danielle Henderson 3 0 5-6 11, Sarah Cartmell 0 0 5-8

5, Mandi Boykin 4 0 0-0

8, Sara Hacker 7 1 6-9 23, Tenielle Young 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 20

3

22-30

71. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: None.