SUMMIT, Ky. - Christian County's Arnika Brown lived up to her billing, but the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers almost stole the show.

Brown, the prized 6-foot-1 center considered the top junior prospect in the country, used a big second half to rally the Lady Colonels past the upset-minded Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 58-47 Monday at the Kentucky Fried Chicken Colonel's Classic.

"I can't say enough about our effort. The girls played great team defense and never quit," Ironton coach Amy Hughes said. "Brown is a great talent. We did about as well as anyone could on her the first half."

After scoring just 7 points the first half, Brown was 10 of 11 from the field in the second half as she scored 24 and helped erase a 3-point Ironton halftime lead.

The Colonels led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but Ironton cut the deficit to just 45-44 with 3:33 to play on a pair of free throws by Andrea Rudmann.

But two foul shots by Brown, a 3-pointer by Denisha Mumford and a layup by Brown with less than two minutes to play pushed the lead to 52-44.

Ironton missed its first seven shots and fell behind 7-1 before coming back to tie the game 9-9 early in the second quarter on a 15-footer by Rudmann.

A rare 4-point play by Rudmann with 2:11 left in the half gave Ironton its first lead at 15-14.

Danielle Henderson followed up a missed shot and Sara Hacker made a layup with 28 seconds on the clock to give the Lady Tigers a 19-16 halftime lead.

But Brown made all five field goal attempts in the third quarter including a short jumper at the 1:31 mark that gave the Colonels a 38-26 lead.

"We were nervous early and couldn't make a shot. Once we settled down, we played pretty well," Hughes said. "I just wished we could replay the second half. We had some costly turnovers in the third quarter and we didn't do a good job keeping them off the boards late in the game."

Christian County outrebounded Ironton 38 to 26 including 13 to 8 in the fourth quarter.

Rudmann hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points as Ironton suffered its first loss in 10 games. Hacker had 14 points and seven rebounds.

"I thought Rudy played well. She stepped up in a big game which is what we need from her," Hughes said.

Watkins, who has verbally committed to Kentucky, had 13 points and 14 rebounds to back Brown who is trying to decide between Tennessee and Connecticut.

Ironton will play Ashland at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the loser's bracket.

Ironton5141018-47

Christian Co.792220-58

IRONTON (9-1):

Andrea Rudmann 6-13 (4-7) 4-5 20, Danielle Henderson 1-6 (0-0) 2-2 4, Mandi Boykin 1-6 (0-0) 0-0 2, Sarah Cartmell 1-4 (0-0) 1-2 3, Sara Hacker 5-12 (0-1) 4-8 14, Ciara Taylor 0-1 (0-0) 0-2) 0, Jessica Waddell 2-5 (0-0) 0-0 4. Totals: 16-47

(4-8)

11-19

47. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 10-16=26 (Hacker 7, Boykin 5, Henderson 4, Cartmell 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 8 (Boykin 5, Rudmann 2). Steals: 7 (Boykin 4). Turnovers: 18.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY (6-0):

Lydia Watkins 6-16 (0-3) 1-5 13, Shana McCombs 0-7 (0-3) 0-3 0, Taniesha Blaine 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Arnika Brown 13-20 (1-1) 4-6 31, Loneia Powell 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Ashley Thompson 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Yezmaine Smith 1-2 (0-0) 1-2 3, Denisha Mumford 3-9 (3-6) 0-0 9, Shermona Riley 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 24-56

(4-14)

6-16

58. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 17-21=38 (Brown 14, Watkins 14). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 9 (Watkins 3, McCombs 3). Steals: 5 (McCombs 2). Turnovers: 19.