HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — It was a new lesson for the young Coal Grove Lady Hornets.

The inexperienced Lady Hornets saw a 13-point third quarter lead evaporate as they lost a 45-44 heartbreaker to the Wayne Lady Pioneers Friday in the consolation game of the St. Joe Invitational small school division.

“Our inexperience hurt us. We need to learn how to make plays when we need it,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Nick Miller.

Darrien Hankins scored 6 of her 8 points in the first quarter as Coal Grove took a 16-7 lead.

Chelsea Delong scored all but two Coal Grove’s 9 points in the second quarter and the lead was 25-17 at the half.

Coal Grove’s Ashley Adkins hit a 3-pointer with about six minutes in the third quarter that opened up a 31-17 lead. But Kristen Stiltner scored 6 points inside and Wayne used an 8-0 scoring spurt to cut the deficit to 32-27.

Delong had 6 points in the fourth quarter, but Samantha Queen and Pagie Childers drained a pair of 3-pointers to rally Wayne. Stiltner then made a free throw with 1:16 to play that put Wayne up 45-44.

Coal Grove had several chances to tie or win the game including two missed foul shots with 0.3 seconds to play.

“In the second half we just had trouble scoring and their 3-pointers killed us,” said Miller.

Delong scored 21 points to lead the Lady Hornes (6-9).

Queen scored 20 and Stiltner 11 for Wayne (7-8).

Wayne 7 10 10 18 = 45

Coal Grove 16 9 7 12 = 44

WAYNE (7-8): Paige Childers 0 2 0-0 6, Samantha Queen 3 4 2-2 20, Erica Kitchen 1 0 2-2 4, Tasha Maynard 2 0 0-0 4, Paige Kelly 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Stiltner 4 0 3-5 11, Ashley Willis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 6 7-9 45. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (6-9): Katie Erwin 2 0 0-0 4, Ashley Adkins 1 1 2-2 7, Kelli McMackin 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Fleming 0 0 0-0 0, Cheyenne Bellomy 1 0 0-0 2, Amanda Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Chelsea Delong 7 1 4-7 21, Darrien Hankins 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 16 2 6-9 44. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.