By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESAPEAKE — There is one way to overcome your problems in basketball: play defense.

For all their problems Thursday night, the Chesapeake Lady Panthers used their defense to get past the Fairland Lady Dragons 55-51 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“A lot of our problems came form turnovers and a lack of execution on offense,” said Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball.

“But we defended well in the halfcourt and we had a good effort. Sarah Mayo stepped up and did a tremendous job on (Chandler) Fulks. She held (Fulks) scoreless in the first half and that was big.”

Amanda Ruffner also came up big for the Lady Panthers (4-1, 2-0) by scoring 32 points including 20 of 25 from the foul line. She also pulled down 13 rebounds.

Katie Fuller had 14 points — eight in the fourth quarter — to lead Fairland (1-6, 0-2). Kerie Napier had a strong game with 13 points and 17 rebounds.

The game was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter. Ruffner scored nine points in the second quarter as Chesapeake led 30-24 at halftime.

Each team scored eight points in the third quarter to make it 38-32 and then Ruffner scored 12 points in the fourth quarter including 10 of 13 at the line.

Fairland 14 10 8 19 = 51

Chesapeake 14 16 8 17 = 55

FAIRLAND (1-6, , 0-2): Katie Fuller 3 1 5-6 14, Kayla Swiger 2 0 0-0 4, Chandler Fulks 3 0 3-4 9, Lauren Poe 1 0 1-2 3, Alyssa Hessell 2 0 1-3 5, Samantha Lamb 1 0 1-4 3, Kerie Napier 6 0 1-5 13, Taylor Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Torie Garrett 0 0 0-0 0, Haley Woodall 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 1 12-24 51. Fouls: 30. Fouled out: Fuller, Poe, Lamb.

CHESAPEAKE (4-1, 2-0): Kristen Webb 0 1 0-1 3, Sarah Mayo 1 1 2-2 7, Amanda Ruffner 6 0 20-25 32, Jackie Nelson 1 0 1-2 3, Sarah Rice 0 0 0-0 0, Maggie Smith 2 0 1-2 5, Jordan Porter 0 0 3-4 3, Mackenzie Moore 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 11 2 27-37 55. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Mayo.