By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits were within one at the half, but an early third quarter run gave the Central Arkansas Christian Lady Mustangs the lead and the momentum over the home team for a 69-54 victory Friday night at the Gina Cox Center at Lonoke High School. Lonoke is now 16-7 overall and 9-2 in conference play. CAC is 20-2 and undefeated in the conference.
“My kids played hard,” Lonoke coach Heath Swiney said. “We did not quit. We had a couple of breakdowns, but my kids didn’t quit. I thought their kids played well, too. She’s (Christyn Williams) really, really good.”
Keiunna Walker scored first for the Lady Jackrabbits with a 2-point basket. Kelson Miller tied the game with a lay-up after a steal on the CAC full court press. Christyn Williams hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Lady Mustangs a 10-4 advantage.
Walker hit her second pair of free throws for Lonoke, followed by threes by Madyson Bowman and Christyn Williams for the Lady Mustangs.
Walker responded with a 3-point bucket of her own, and the score at the end of a quarterwas 16-9 in favor of CAC. Lonoke had a strong second period, outscoring the visitor 22-16 to only trail 32-31 at the half. Kaley Woodruff led the way for the Lady Jackrabbits in the quarter with 14 points including four 3-point baskets.
CAC came out in the third quarter and scored 13 points before Walker was able to hit a three for Lonoke. Christyn Williams started the run with a 3-point basket and Jenna Davis had a lay-up and an assist to Christyn Williams. Davis had another 2-point basket in the frame, and Miller also had a 2-pointer to give the Lady Mustangs a 51-34 advantage. Mickenzie Williams hit 4 of 4 from the line for Lonoke for a score of 51-38 at the end of three periods of play.
Gracie Hyde cut the lead to ten with a three from the corner to start Lonoke’s scoring in the final period. Lauren Peoples answered with a 2-pointer for CAC, but Hyde connected on another 3-point basket and Walker a two to cut the lead to 53-46. Hyde was also 3 of 4 from the charity stripe in the quarter. Lonoke was within nine at 61-52 when Christyn Williams went on a six point scoring run. Walker hit another 2-point basket for the Lady Jackrabbits, and the Lady Mustangs scored once more to set the final score at 69-54.
Walker led Lonoke in scoring with 21 points, Woodruff had 15 points, Hyde 11, and Mickenzie Williams seven points.
Christyn Williams led all scorers with 41 points and was 9 of 9 from the free throw line. Davis added 12 points for CAC, and Miller and Bowman each had five points.
