GADSDEN, Ala. — A massive third-quarter showing was the difference Monday afternoon as the No. 11 Pearl River women's team turned a narrow halftime lead into a runaway, 66-44, victory at Gadsden State.

"Our bench energy and excitement was the best that it has been all year," head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "I recently challenged this team about their maturity; our maturity was phenomenal today. We didn't get rattled when we didn't play our best basketball in the first half. The girls stayed positive, and there was a lot of love on the bench — that displayed on the court."

The teams seemed to match each other shot for shot in the first half of play as Pearl River (8-0 overall) and Gadsden State (4-4) were locked in a 16-13 battle after one quarter, then only three points separated the teams in the second quarter as PRCC went into the break ahead 31-28.

Pearl River's halftime adjustments were important as the Wildcats came right out and outscored the Cardinals by an incredible margin of 20-4 in the third quarter to carry a 51-32 lead into the final frame.

"We changed how we attacked their defense, and the girls did an incredible job of executing and adjusting on the fly," Fletcher said. "We executed a lot better in the second half. We were more patient and got quality shots. We were just so much more locked in defensively with our rotations, and we changed how we guarded them."

Pearl River tacked on 15 points in comparison to Gadsden State's 12 points in the fourth quarter to take a 66-44 victory and move to 8-0 on the season.

LEADING THE WAY
Sydney Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md.; McLean School) led the team with 19 points. It was a career-high, including her stint at Mineral Area.

"Sydney just dominated inside the paint," Fletcher said. "She was rebounding, making the right passes and making the right plays."

Peyton Hearvey (Tupelo) scored 15 points, eight of which came in the third quarter. Her 15 points were a career-high as well.

"Peyton was the x-factor tonight," Fletcher said. "She has a really high motor and lets the game come to her. I told her at halftime that there wasn't a player in the country that could box her out from offensive rebounding, and she bought into that."

Mattison Bell (Philadelphia; Choctaw Central) was the final Wildcat in double figures with 10 points. 

"Mattison showed us why she was the 4A Player of the Year last year tonight," Fletcher said.

NEXT UP
The Wildcats return to the court Dec. 10 as they travel to Coastal Alabama North for a 5 p.m. game. It will be livestreamed at JockJive.com.

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