By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — When you’re hot, you’re hot.

Brittany Reader scored 18 of her 23 points in the first half as the Western Lady Indians took a big first half lead and held on for a 45-31 win over the Green Lady Bobcats Thursday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“(Reader) didn’t miss a shot the first half. She came out red-hot,” said Green coach Bucky Bridges. “But I can’t fault our effort. We played really hard. We had trouble offensively without (Jenna) Crawford).”

Crawford injured her leg in practice and did not play.

Western took a 16-9 lead in the first quarter and led 29-15 at the half.

Green cut the deficit to 35-24 after three quarters but Western outscored the Lady Bobcats 10-7 in the fourth quarter.

Hannah Collett had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists to pace Green. Brianna Bridges pulled down 12 rebounds to go with three blocked shots. Erin Imes added 6 rebounds.

Green (0-2, 0-2) hosts Rock Hill at 1 p.m. Saturday in a non-league game.

Green 9 6 9 7 = 31

Western 16 13 6 10 = 45

GREEN (0-2, 0-2): Bobbi Applegate 2 1 0-0 7, Hannah Collett 3 1 0-0 9, Erin Imes 2 0 0-0 4, Brianna Bridges 2 0 1-4 5, Madison Applegate 1 0 1-2 3, Kayla McCallister 0 0 1-2 1, Sammi Crisp 1 0 0-2 2, Jessica Patrick 0 0 0-0 0, Megan Kerns 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 2 4-10 31. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 35 (Bridges 12, Imes 6, Collett 4). Steals: 8 (M. Applegate 2, B. Applegate 2). Assists: 7 (Collett 5). Blocked shots: 5 (Bridges 3).

WESTERN: Haley Knauff 2 0 2-2 6, Caitlin Rhodes 3 0 2-5 8, Brittany Reader 7 2 3-5 23, Kaci Grooms 1 0 0-0 2, Alexis Coulson 2 0 0-0 4, Chrissy Woods 1 0 0-2 2, Chelsea Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Jayme Parker 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 2 7-14 45. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.