FLATWOODS, Ky. - Three out of four isn't bad, unless the one bad quarter is really bad.

It was.

A third quarter collapse led to Ironton's downfall as the Lady Fighting Tigers lost 59-52 Monday to the Russell Lady Red Devils.

Ironton (8-3) was guilty of 26 turnovers with more than a third coming in the third quarter that saw the Lady Tigers six-point lead evaporate into a four-point deficit.

"The third quarter is critical in basketball, and we just didn't take care of the ball. We did things in the third quarter that we don't usually do and that we didn't do in the other three quarters. I can't explain it," Ironton coach Amy Hughes said.

Hot-and-cold shooting also hurt Ironton. The Lady Tigers were 12 of 26 from the field the first half, but just 8 of 26 the second half.

"We're just not playing with any consistency right now. We're into the second half of the season, so we need to start getting into high gear," Hughes said.

Trailing 11-8, Ironton's Sara Hacker converted a three-point play to tie the game at the end of the first quarter. Andrea Rudmann hit a short jumper, Ciara Taylor made a layup, and Rudmann drilled a 3-pointer to give Ironton an 18-11 lead at the 5:15 mark.

A 10-footer by Mandi Boykin just before the buzzer put Ironton up 26-18 at the break.

But then came the nine turnovers and 4 of 12 shooting in the third quarter as Russell's press generated a 38-34 lead.

Russell went up 45-34 with 6:11 left, but Ironton used six free throws by Hacker and layups by Rudmann and Hacker to get within 47-44 with 4:25 to go, but Russell hit 8 of 14 free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

Hacker finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Rudmann had 11 points and Sarah Cartmell 10 rebounds.

Daniels scored 21 points and Kayla Faulkner 20 for Russell.

Ironton's game Thursday with Rose Hill has been canceled.

The reserve game was won by Russell 26-24. Tennielle Young had 18 points for Ironton.

Ironton1115818-52

Russell1172021-59

IRONTON (8-3):

Andrea Rudmann 5-15 (1-5) 0-0 11, Danielle Henderson 1-5 (0-0) 0-0 2, Mandi Boykin 2-10 (0-1) 2-3 6, Sarah Cartmell 1-4 (0-0) 1-2 3, Sara Hacker 10-17 (0-3) 8-9 28, Ciara Taylor 1-1 (0-0) 0-0 2. Totals: 20-52

(1-9)

11-14

52. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds; 9-28=37 (Hacker 11, Cartmell 10, Boykin 6). Team/dead ball rebounds: 4. Assists: 12 (Hacker 4, Rudmann 3, Boykin 3). Steals: 12 (Hacker 5, Boykin 4). Turnovers: 26.

RUSSELL (NA): Kayla Faulkner 8-18 (2-8) 2-4 20, Britt Faulkner 0-4 (0-1) 3-7 3, Jessica Fortman 1-9 (1-5) 2-6 5, Christen Daniels 10-15 (0-0) 1-2 21, Renee' Grizzle 0-4 (0-2) 0-0 0, Chinwe Okoro 4-7 (0-0) 2-4 10, Samantha Sparks 0-3 (0-3) 0-0 0. Totals: 22-60

(4-19)

10-23

59. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 8-20=28 (Daniels 8, Okoro 7). Team/dead ball rebounds: 5. Assists: 6 (K. Faulkner 2, B. Faulkner 2). Steals: 13 (K. Faulkner 4). Turnovers: 14.