PORTSMOUTH — It was shut down time.

Backed by a strong defensive effort, the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings opened the season with a 39-27 win over the Portsmouth Notre Dame Lady Titans in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We had one heck of a defensive game tonight,” said Symmes Valley head coach Lisa Bryant.

“I can’t say enough about the defensive effort tonight. We played the way I know this team can. We hit the boards well and played defense all four quarters.”

A big key in the defensive effort was 29 steals as a team by the Lady Vikings.

Brooke Skinner had 12 points to lead a balanced offense. She also had 8 rebounds and 6 steals.

Chelsea Wall added 7 points and 8 rebounds and Jessie Morris 7 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

“Skinner had a good all-around game for us this evening,” said Bryant. “Walls had a good game as well. Morris, Nance and Corn had a good outing on the defensive end. The three of them combined for 10 steals.”

Symmes Valley led 11-5 at the end of the first quarter and went up 19-11 at the half.

The Lady Vikings pulled away to a 32-15 lead after three quarters and coasted to the win.

Notre Dame outscored Symmes Valley 12-6 in the fourth quarter.

“We got a little sloppy with the ball and lacked patience offensively in the fourth quarter,” said Bryant.

Symmes Valley hosts Sciotoville East at 6 p.m. Thursday in a league game.

Symmes Valley 11 8 13 6 = 39

Notre Dame 5 6 4 12 = 27

SYMMES VALLEY (1-0, 1-0): Nikki Nance 0 0 0-0 0, Brooke Skinner 5 0 2-2 12, Chelsea Wall 1 0 5-7 7, Jessie Morris 30 1-6 7, Kayla Hayes 2 0 1-2 5, Erica Corn 1 1 0-0 5, Ada Humphrey 1 0 1-3 3, Maleena Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Caitie Bloomfield 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 1 10-21 39. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Corn. Rebounds: 44 (Skinner 8, Wall 8, Morris 7, Hayes 6, Corn 5). Steals: 21 (Skinner 6, Morris 4, Corn 3, Hayes 2). Assists: 8 (Nance 4). Turnovers: 29.

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (0-1,0-1): Shupert 1 0 2-4 4, Kayser 0 0 0-0 0, Monroe 2 0 0-4 4, Delabar 3 0 0-4 6, Arnzen 3 0 3-5 9, Sammons 1 0 2-2 4, Welsh 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 0 7-19 27. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.