By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

COAL GROVE — The Chesapeake Lady Panthers’ offense couldn’t get going. That’s when Amanda Ruffner took over and became the offense.

Ruffner scored 26 points — 17 in the second half — and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Lady Panthers beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 52-43 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We did play pretty good defense, we just didn’t shoot very well,” said Chesapeake coach Chris Ball. “Ruffner took over and got us the points we needed in the second half.”

Sarah Mayo added nine points, six assists and four steals for Chesapeake (2-1, 1-0). Maggie Smith contributed nine points.

“My girls performed the defense we practiced all week during the first half very well,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.

“However, in the second half defensively we didn’t have an answer for Ruffner. She has size and athleticism. She is a very athletic kid.”

Hope Ratcliff scored 18 points while Ashley Adkins added 10 points for the Lady Hornets (2-2, 0-1).

“Ratcliff stepped up and did a good job getting to the basket and drawing some fouls. Adkins was a little slow. She’s been battling flu-like symptoms,” said Roach.

Ruffner had six points in the first quarter with Mayo and Smith getting five each as Chesapeake took a 16-14 lead. Ratcliff had seven points for Coal Grove.

The lead was 23-19 at the half and then Ruffner got seven points in the third quarter to make it 30-27.

But Ruffner took over with 10 points in the fourth quarter to offset seven points by Ratcliff as Chesapeake pulled away to a 52-38 lead.

“We never got into a rhythm. We couldn’t find the net, but you have to give some credit to Coal Grove for that,” said Ball.

Chesapeake 16 7 9 20 = 52

Coal Grove 14 5 8 16 = 43

CHESAPEAKE (2-1, 1-0): Kristen Webb 1 0 0-2 2, Elizabeth Wells 0 0 0-1 0, Sarah Mayo 3 1 0-0 9, Amanda Ruffner 11 0 4-5 26, Jackie Nelson 1 0 2-3 4, Sarah Rice 0 0 0-0 0, Jillian Ellis 0 0 0-0 0, Casey Underwood 0 0 0-0 0, Maggie Smith 4 1 0-0 11, Jordan Porter 0 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Moore 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 2 6-11 52. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 17 (Ruffner 10). Assists: 12 (Mayo 6). Steals: 16 (Ruffner 4, Mayo 4, Rice 4, Nelson 4). Turnovers: 11.

COAL GROVE (2-2, 0-1): Ashley Adkins 3 1 1-2 10, Amanda Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Katey Erwin 2 0 0-0 4, Darrien Hankins 2 0 2-2 6, Hope Ratcliff 5 1 5-8 18, Ashley Goad 0 0 0-1 0, Taylor Fleming 0 1 1-2 4, Morgan Sites 0 0 1-2 1, Alisha McClellan 0 0 0-1 0. Totals: 12 3 10-18 43.