PROCTORVILLE — When all else fails, just turn to the old reliable part of your game: Defense.

The Chesapeake Lady Panthers saw other parts of their game break down but used a strong defensive effort to get by the Fairland Lady Dragons 54-43 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played great defense, but we turned the ball over too much and we didn’t rebound. We just didn’t go to the glass,” said Chesapeake coach Sammy Gue.

“Kimmie Bennett did a great job on (Destinee) Spears. She’s just a freshman and we asked a lot of her and she responded. And (Allison) Chapman did a good job on (MacKenzie) Rucker.”

Sarah Mayo scored 18 points to go with five rebounds and three assists as Chesapeake improved to 4-3 and 3-0 in the OVC. Bennett had 15 points and six rebounds while Rachel Harris grabbed seven rebounds.

Spears had 12 points and five rebounds to lead Fairland (2-4, 0-3). Brianna Day had six rebounds.

Mayo scored five points in the first quarter as Chesapeake raced to an 11-2 lead.

Courtney Heffner and Mayo scored 4 points each in the second quarter to offset 6 points by Spears and the lead was 23-13 at the break.

Lauren Phillips had 6 points while Spears and Rucker hit 3-pointers as Fairland cut the deficit to 38-32. Bennett had 8 of her points in the quarter.

Mayo hit a 3-pointer and the Lady Panthers connected on 7-of-11 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to end any Fairland comeback hopes.

Chesapeake11121516=54

Fairland2111911=43

CHESAPEAKE (4-3, 3-0): Rachel Harris 3 0 0-0 6, Courtney Heffner 3 0 2-2 8, Allison Chapman 1 0 2-7 4, Sarah Mayo 4 1 7-8 18, Kimmie Bennett 6 0 3-4 15, Cassie Rucker 1 0 1-2 3, Kristen Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Paige Nelson 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Delpapa 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-41 15-23 54. 3-point goals: 1-5. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 25 (Harris 7, Bennett 6, Mayo 5). Assists: 8 (Mayo 3, Chapman 2).

FAIRLAND (2-4, 0-3): Destinee Spears 4 1 1-7 12, MacKenzie Rucker 0 1 0-0 3, Brianna Day 2 0 0-0 4, Lauren Phillips 3 0 2-2 8, Lauren Fulks 1 0 3-5 5, Jordan Fulks 1 0 0-0 2, Shelby Fuller 2 0 0-0 4, Megan Brooks 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 17-65 7-16 43. 3-point goals: 2-5. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Rucker, L. Phillips. Rebounds: 27 (Day 6, L. Fulks 5, Phillips 5, Spears 5). Assists: 3.