By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 7, 2001
UNION Newton County's Lady Cougars improved to 3-0 with a 48-34 girls only basketball win over Union Tuesday night to spoil the Lady Jackets' season opener.
Union went scoreless for over six minutes to start the game as Newton County jumped out to an 8-0 lead before Lauren White broke the ice from the right baseline.
Newton County led 8-3 at the end of the first quarter, but Union pulled even at 9-9 on a basket from LaSaundra Harrison with 5:11 left in the second period.
The Lady Cougars then went on an 11-1 run with a 3-pointer from Kristin Chaney and a steal and layup from Kristin Headrick giving Newton County a 20-10 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.
Union rallied to within 20-15 on a 3-pointer from Madison Brantley, but the Lady Cougars scored the final six points of the half to lead 26-15 at intermission.
The teams played cat and mouse in the second half with Union clawing back to within seven points on several occasions only to have the Lady Cougars stretch back out to a double-digit lead every time.
Union trailed 36-27 to start the fourth quarter, but the Lady Cougars had a 12-7 advantage over the final eight minutes to remain undefeated.
Many times Union had the ball for a good shot only to be unable to make the basket.
Chaney led Newton County with a game-high 16 points. Dominique Mapp and Yolanda Johnson both scored 10 points with Phyllis Cole adding nine.
Harrison led Union with 12 points. Smith scored nine, all of which came in the second half.
Newton County returns to action Thursday at 6 p.m. against Southeast Lauderdale in the annual Tip Off Tournament at Clarkdale.
Union's next action is on Nov. 13 at home against Philadelphia.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or phone him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.