Lady Tigers defense beats Portsmouth

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 29, 2005

PORTSMOUTH — At the rate they are playing, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers could end up on the cover of Elmer’s Glue.

Ironton’s sticky defense was at it again Thursday as the Lady Fighting Tigers beat the stubborn Portsmouth Lady Trojans 54-38.

The Lady Fighting Tigers held Portsmouth to just 14-of-41 from the floor for 34 percent. The Lady Trojans managed only 16 points in the second half.

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“We played pretty good defense, especially in the second half,” Ironton coach Amy Hughes said. “Portsmouth has a pretty good team and (Jennifer) Bendolph is strong inside. They have some speed and make it hard to guard.”

Not only was Ironton able to guard the Trojans, but the Lady Tigers also had enough offense to remain unbeaten.

Ironton (5-0) had four players in double figures led by Danielle Henderson and Sara Hacker with 13 points each. Mandi Boykin scored 12 points and Jessica Waddle had 10.

Henderson also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Hacker had four rebounds and four steals and Boykin handed out four assists to go along with two steals. Waddle also had four assists.

“We had good balance on offense which is what we’re looking for. When we’re balanced like tonight, it makes it hard for teams to key on one player,” Hughes said.

Waddle had six points as Ironton took a 13-4 lead to start the game. Henderson’s three-point play pushed the lead to 16-6 before Brya Coleman’s layup got Portsmouth within 16-8 at the end of the quarter.

A 3-point goal by Sydnee Jorday got Portsmouth within 18-15 with 6:21 left in the half, but Ironton opened up a 25-15 lead on foul shot by Waddle at the three minute mark and was up 29-22 a the break.

“We got in a little foul trouble in the second quarter and made some mistakes, but we were able to recover in the second half,” Hughes said.

Two foul shots by Boykin had the lead at 35-23 early in the third quarter and layups by Henderson and Boykin to close the quarter gave Ironton a 42-32 lead.

Henderson followed up her own missed shot and Hacker had a putback to extend the Ironton lead to 48-36 with 3:02 to play.

Bendolph had 16 points — 12 in the second half — to lead Portsmouth (3-4).

Ironton16131312=54

Portsmouth614106=38

IRONTON (5-0): Jessica Waddle 4-10 (0-0) 2-6 10, Danielle Henderson 6-11 (0-0) 1-2 13, Mandi Boykin 4-8 (0-1) 4-5 12, Ciara Taylor 1-3 (0-0) 2-2 4, Sara Hacker 5-9 (0-1) 3-4 13, Chelsea Cleary 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Kayla Wileman 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Megan Crockrel 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Rachel Walker 0-1 (0-0) 0-2 0, Edi Taylor 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 21-44

(0-2)

12-21

54. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 11-19=30 (Henderson 6, C. Taylor 5, Boykin 5, Hacker 4, Waddle 4). Team/deadball rebounds; 3. Assists: 11 (Boykin 4, Waddle 4). Steals: 11 (Hacker 4, C. Taylor 3, Boykin 2, Henderson 2). Turnovers: 14.

PORTSMOUTH (3-4): Brya Coleman 3-10 (0-0) 2-4 8, Jenny Pierce 1-4 (0-2) 0-0 2, Sydnee Jordan 2-10 (1-5) 2-2 7, Jennifer Bendolph 6-9 (0-0) 4-6 16, Brittany Stanley 1-4 (0-0) 0-0 2, Magee Colley 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Rebecca Kristian 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Cooper Taylor 1-3 (1-1) 0-0 3. Totals: 14-41

(2-7)

8-12

38. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 7-11=18 (Bendolph 5, Stanley 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 8. Assists: 2 (Jordan 2). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 18.

Reserves: Ironton 34, Portsmouth 13. Ironton leaders: Mercedes Crockrel 11, Rachel Walker 8, Kayla Wileman 6; Portsmouth: Magee Colley 5.