CHESHIRE -- The River Valley Lady Raiders are the silent contenders.

While Rock Hill, South Point and Chesapeake continue to battle for the lead in the Ohio Valley Conference race, River Valley has quietly put itself in position to contend after a 59-46 win Thursday over the Fairland Lady Dragons.

River Valley is 3-2 in the OVC and 6-8 on the season. The Raiders still have two games with Coal Grove and Chesapeake plus

a home game against South Point.

Nicole Watkins scored 23 points, had 14 rebounds and block seven shots to lead the Raiders. Leslie Ward added 11 points.

Jennifer Jones scored 18 points including three 3-pointers to lead Fairland (7-8, 2-5). Megan Fisher scored 10.

River Valley took a 17-11 first quarter lead and stretched the margin to 38-28 at the break. Both teams scored 9 points in the third quarter before the Raiders outscored Fairland by 4 points in the fourth quarter.

Fairland111799--46

River Valley1720913--59

FAIRLAND (7-8, 2-5):

Brianna Davis 0 0 2-2 2, Megan Fisher 4 0 2-4 10, Kristen Berry 3 0 1-6 7, Jennifer Jones 3

3

3-9

18, Britani Keeney 2 0 0-0 4, Jennifer Legg 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 13

4

8-21

46.

RIVER VALLEY (6-8, 3-2):

Kari Beth Taylor 0 2 0-0 6, Kristina Naylor 2 1 2-5 9, Rachel Naylor 2 0 0-2 4, Leslie Ward 3 1 2-3 11, Ashley Caldwell 1 0 2-4 4, Nicole Watkins 5 2 7-9 23, Ashley Davies 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 14

6

13-25

59.