Ironton coach Amy Hughes may try some music in practice. It might keep her team in rhythm.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were in and out of step Saturday night, but they managed to dance their way past the Fairland Lady Dragons 66-53.

"We didn't play very well, especially early and late in the game. I don't know if it was the big crowd and we were nervous or what," Ironton coach Amy Hughes said.

"We started to get in a better rhythm after the first quarter. They started fouling the fourth quarter and that broke the rhythm again. That, and the fact we couldn't make a foul shot."

Ironton was just 15 of 38 from the line for the game, and only 11 of 25 in the fourth quarter as Fairland attempted its comeback.

Andrea Rudmann scored 20 points and handed out six assists for Ironton, now 5-0. Sara Hacker scored 13 points and hauled down 16 rebounds, Ashley Hannon scored 11, and Candace Ferguson got 13 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out at the start of the fourth quarter.

Jennifer Jones had 17 points for Fairland (1-2) -- 12 in the fourth quarter. Brianna Davis had 12 points.

The Lady Tigers led just 9-6 after the first quarter and then pulled ahead 24-14 at the half.

Ironton outscored Fairland 21-11 the third quarter to built a 45-25 lead.

But after Ferguson fouled out, Fairland went on a 14-3 run to get within 48-39.

Rudmann made 3 of 4 foul shots and it was 51-39 with 4:20 left. Davis scored and it was a 10-point game, but Hacker's two foul shots made it 53-41.

Hannon hit a basket with 1:22 left and then sank the second of two foul shots just moments later to put Ironton up 61-48.

Davis followed up a missed shot and it was 61-50, but Rudmann then made a layup and two foul shots to give the Lady Tigers a 65-50 lead.

"We had a 20-point lead and let it get down to nine. We have to do a better job of hitting our free throws," Hughes said.

Fairland681128--53

Ironton9152121--66

FAIRLAND (1-2):

Brianna Davis 6 0 0-2 12, Megan Fisher 1 1 1-2 6, Jodie Waugh 1 0 0-2 2, Kara Riley 0 0 0-2 0, Kristen Berry 1 1 0-0 5, Jennifer Jones 2 2 7-8 17, Kristen Brumfield 1 0 2-2 4, Brittani Keeney 2 0 0-2 4, Jennifer Legg 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 14

5

10-20

53. Fouls: 27. Fouled out: Fisher, Jones, Keeney.

IRONTON (5-0):

Andrea Rudmann 4 2 8-10 20, Ashley Hannon 3 1 2-6 11, Rachel Wylie 0 0 1-2 1, Candace Ferguson 6 0 1-4 13, Sara Hacker 5 0 3-8 13, Sarah Cartmell 3 0 0-8 6. Totals: 21

3

15-38

66. Fouls 18. Fouled out: Ferguson. Rebounds: 49 (Hacker 16, Ferguson 13). Assists: 9 (Rudmann 6). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 22.