By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redwomen gave it all they had, but the Portsmouth Lady Trojans just had too much.

Rock Hill trailed by 12 pints at the half but powerhouse Lady Trojans took over in the second half en route to a 59-27 Ohio Valley Conference win on Monday.

“Our girls played hard and they played tough in the first half,” said Rock Hill coach Eric Bailey. “I like this group of girls. They like to be coached.

“But Portsmouth is good. They played with character and poise. Amy (Hughes) has done a great job. They are coached at a high level and they play at a high level.”

Sienna Allen jump started Portsmouth as she hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points and the Lady Trojans led 24-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Hope Easterling hit a 3-pointer and scored 8 points with J’lynn Risner going 4-of-4 at the foul line to keep the Redwomen close.

The pace slowed down in the second quarter the Lady Trojans outscored Rock Hill 7-4 and it was 31-19 at the half.

“We did a good job of controlling the tempo in the first half and kept it close, but they are just a good team and well coached,” said Bailey.

But the Lady Trojans were able to control the pace in the third quarter as Dasha Reid scored 8 points and Allen hit a trey to extend the lead to 48-21.

Keke Woods knocked down a 3-pointer and scored 5 points with Katie Ankrom adding 4 more points as Portsmouth outscored the Redwomen 11-6 in the fourth quarter.

Risner had 3 points for Rock Hill.

“It was a great environment. Both sides were packed. Both teams played hard,” said Bailey.

Easterling led Rock Hill (1-1, 0-1) with 11 points with Risner scoring 9 and Scott 7.

Portsmouth (2-0, 1-0) was led by Allen with 17 points and Reid scored 13.

Rock Hill will host Fairland on Thursday. Portsmouth faces Pikeville at Boyd County Saturday and plays Fort Frye on Sunday at Shawnee State.

Portsmouth    24 7 17 11 = 59

Rock Hill 15 4 2 6 = 27

PORTSMOUTH (2-0, 1-0): Emily Cheatham 0 0 0-0 0, Sienna Allen 3 3 2-2 17, Dasha Reid 5 1 0-0 13, Keke Woods 2 1 0-0 7, Hayvan Carter 4 0 0-0 8, Bry Shannon 0 0 0-0 0, K.K. Mays 3 0 0-0 6, Katie Ankrom 2 0 0-0 4, Savannah Cantrell 0 1 1-1 4. Totals: 19 6 3-3 59. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (1-1, 0-1): Shelby Wigandt 0 0 0-0 0, Kassidy Lyons 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Scott 0 1 4-4 7, Samantha Bamer 0 0 0-0 0, Blayr Knipp 0 0 0-0 0, Hope Easterling 3 1 2-2 11, Abby Schug 0 0 0-0 0, Laken Bowen 0 0 0- 0, J’lynn Risner 2 0 5-5 9, Gabby Ward 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie McFann 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 5 2 11-11 27. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.