PORTSMOUTH - When there's a fire, get a fire extinguisher.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers' defense works as one real well.

After Portsmouth shot nearly 50 percent the first half to take a 30-29 lead, Ironton used its defense to rally for a 57-48 win Thursday.

"Our defense was the difference. It helped cool them off," Ironton coach Amy Hughes said. "I can't say enough about the defensive job Mandi Boykin did on (Tonya) McKenzie, and Sarah Cartmell played really well defensively the second half."

McKenzie, the Lady Trojans' leading scorer, managed to scratch out 10 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career. Brya Coleman and Sarah Barney had 12 points each with Barney getting all her points in the first half on 4 of 5 shooting.

Portsmouth was 17 of 41 from the field for the game but 11 of 23 the first half including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

"We knew they would cool off. They were on fire the first half, but we made a couple of changes and took away their open looks with our defense in the second half," Hughes said.

Ironton (12-1) was led by Andrea Rudmann with 22 points. Boykin had 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Sara Hacker added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Tigers led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter as Rudmann scored 9 points including a 19-footer just before the buzzer.

But the Lady Trojans were 8 of 11 from the field in the second quarter as Barney hit a 3-pointer and Coleman two 3-pointers including one with 22 seconds left in the half to make it 30-29.

Danielle Henderson and Rudmann hit back-to-back shots to put Ironton up for good at 39-35 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.

Ironton led 43-39 heading into the fourth quarter and stretched the spread to 54-44 on a baseline jumper by Jessica Waddle with 2:35 to play. Two foul shots by Waddle and one by Rudmann with 30 seconds to go sealed the win.

In the reserve game, Ironton won 23-17 as Kayla Wileman scored 12 and Chelsea Cleary 7. Maggie Colley had 15 for the Trojans.

Portsmouth is now 6-6.

Ironton15141414-57

Portsmouth102099-48

IRONTON (12-1):

Andrea Rudmann 8-15 (3-9) 3-6 22, Danielle Henderson 1-4 (0-0) 0-0 2, Mandi Boykin 8-11 (0-1) 1-1 17, Sarah Cartmell 0-1 (0-0) 1-5 1, Sara Hacker 5-9 (1-4) 0-2 11, Jessica Waddle 1-3 (0-1) 2-2 4, Ciara Taylor 0-3 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 23-44

(4-15)

7-16

57. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 11-19=30 (Hacker 11, Boykin 7). Team/deadball rebounds: 1. Assists: 12 (Boykin 7). Steals: 11 (Boykin 3, Rudmann 3, Cartmell 3). Turnovers: 10.

PORTSMOUTH (6-6):

Brya Coleman 4-9 (2-5) 2-3 12, Tonya McKenzie 4-10 (1-2) 1-5 10, Sarah Barney 4-8 (2-3) 2-3 12, Sydnee Jordan 2-6 (1-3) 0-0 5, Emma Browne 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Jennifer Bendolph 0-3 (0-0) 3-6 3, Jeigha Lisath 2-3 (0-0) 0-0 4. Totals: 17-41

(6-13)

8-17

48. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 6-12=18 (Coleman 5, Bendolph 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 10. Assists: 6 (McKenzie 2). Steals: 4 (McKenzie 2). Turnovers: 13.