By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — This time it was about how you started.

The Notre Dame Lady Titans started fast and it proved to be the difference as they beat the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 49-36 in Thursday.

Ella Kirby hit a pair of 3-pointers and Gracie Ashley scored 6 points as Notre Dame umped out to a 20-7 lead.

Kaitlyn Maynard had 4 points for the Lady Vikings.

Desiree Simpson drilled a 3-pointer and scored 7 points in the second quarter as the Lady Vikings cut the deficit to 27-19 at the half.

The Lady Titans had just 7 points in the second quarter with Kirby hitting another trey.

Notre Dame (2-0) came out strong offensively in the third quarter as Katie Strickland scored 6 points and Kirby knocked down a 3-pointer and made 2 foul shots and the lead grew to 44-30.

Simpson hit another trifecta and 3 fouls shots for the Lady Vikings (2-1).

The scoring was slow for both teams in the fourth quarter as Symmes Valley outscored Notre Dame just 6-5.

Breanna Tibbs, Maynard and Simpson all had baskets for the Lady Vikings.

Bree Hicks had a 3-pointer and Stickland a basket for the Lady Titans offense.

Simpson led the Lady Vikings with  a game-high 18 points. Maynard added 8 points.

Strickland and Kirby scored 14 points each for the Lady Titans.

Sym. Valley 8 11 11 6 = 36

Notre Dame    20 7 17 5 = 49

SYMMES VALLEY (2-1): Lydia Saunders 0 0 0-0 0, Kayley Maynard 1 0 0-2 2, Hailee Beckett 0 0 2-2 2, Jordi Ellison 2 0 0-2 4, Brenna Tibbs 1 0 0-0 2, Desiree Simpson 5 2 2-2 18, Kaitlyn Maynard 4 0 0-2 8. Totals: 13 2 4-10 36. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (2-0): Lilly Madden 0 0 0-0 0, Jaysa Bryant 0 0 0-0 0, Ella Kirby 0 4 2-2 14, Savanah Holtgrewe 0 0 0-0 0, Bree Hicks 1 1 0-0 5, Annabelle Ball 2 0 0-0 4, Kaylyn Darden 2 0 0-0 4, Gracie Ashley 4 0 0-0 8, Katie Strickland 7 0 0-1 14. Totals: 16 5 2-4 49. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Ball.