After suffering a four-game losing streak, including to the top two teams in the state last week, the Bryant Lady Hornets broke that streak with a 61-38 dominating performance of the Fort Smith Southside Lady Mavs Tuesday at the Hornet’s Nest in Bryant in 7A Central Conference action.
“We had a tough week last week with the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the state in the same week,” Bryant Coach Brad Matthews said. “We didn’t fare that well. We played well in spurts last week, but Conway and North Little Rock are loaded. To play those teams and to come back on the next game and play the way we did is a testament to our kids’ ability to keep working and understand what we’re trying to do.”
The Lady Hornets (8-11, 3-4 Central) led 15-11 after one quarter and started the second quarter on a 7-2 run including an offensive rebound and put back by sophomore Celena Martin and a steal and bucket from sophomore Tierra Trotter.
Bryant led 29-20 at the break, but it was the third quarter in which the Lady Hornets blew the game wide open. Trotter had a rebound and put back to open the quarter before Southside’s Kelly Carson had a bucket, but then Bryant would go on a 9-0 run capped by junior Kalia Walker’s 3-pointer assisted by sophomore India Atkins for the 40-22 lead with 5:43 left in the third.
A basket from Lady Mav Erin Graham stopped the bleeding, but Bryant responded with 9-0 run, capped by consecutive offensive rebounds and put backs from junior Robyn Gordon, to end the quarter up 49-26.
Bryant will stay home this week and take on the Northside Lady Bears on Friday.