Lady Highlanders throttle Lufkin

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The Woodlands Lady Highlander basketball team returned home, looking to get back to their winning ways hosting Lufkin as the Lady Panthers look to improve their postseason hopes, its our WOL Sports Game of the Week.

In the first quarter, the Lady Highlanders got off to a slow start, however with great defense, got the transition game going and had a 10-4 lead. Lufkin battled back with a 6-0 run in 1:15 to take their only lead at 11-10 with 1:10 left in the first quarter.

The Woodlands would respond with a 17-0 run over a 7:00 stretch, keyed by Alexis Heathcock, Payton Walker and Nicole Iademarco. The Lady Highlander run lasted deep into the second quarter, as The Woodlands took control with a 27-11 lead, giving The Woodlands control at the break with a 27-15 lead.

In the second half, it was the Nicole Iademarco show, as she gets a lay-up, hits a three-pointer, and another lay-up to start the 3rd quarter. Iademarco finished with a game-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Lady Highlanders stretched their lead to 16 at 39-23 with 4:00 left in the third quarter.

Lufkin continued to try to cut into the lead, however Ally Welling's lay-up to give the Lady Highlanders a 45-30 lead after three quarters of play. In the final period, The Woodlands tough perimeter defense continued and held Lufkin to 0-for-13 on three-pointers for the game.

The Lady Highlanders saw Lufkin slowly cut the deficit to 54-44 with 2:00 left, however Payton Walker and Nicole Iademarco respond with a 6-0 run as the Lady Highlanders win their 10th district game of the season with a 61-44 throttling of Lufkin.

With the win the Lady Highlanders improve to 20-8 overall, 10-1 in district play and will have a bye on Tuesday before closing out the regular season on the road on February 4, at Bryan.