Dreher's Tequila McNeal goes for a fast break and two of her 24 points as A.C. Flora's Lisa Hozey gves chase.

Dreher's Tequila McNeal scored 24 second- half points, most of which came off steals and fast breaks, to lead the Lady Blue Devils over the arch- rival Lady Falcons 61- 52 at A.C. Flora Friday, December 19.

Without arguably their best player, Tiara Knotts, who was nursing an injury, the Lady Falcons still managed to jump out to a 14- 4 lead at the end of the first period. Six players scored for A.C. Flora including four by Kim Roach and three by Bria Kitt.

The Lady Falcons pushed their lead to 18- 4 to start the second period off a Jasmine Stubbs rebound and jumper. The Lady Blue Devils finally got going with an 8- 0 run powered mostly by two conventional three- point plays from Janai Wiggens and Alysse Boone.

The Lady Falcons pushed the lead back to 23- 12 off Allie Gaddis's two lay ups, but the Lady Blue Devils closed the half with an 8- 2 run powered by Emily Newton. Her six straight free throws, coast- to- coast lay up with six seconds remaining, and 14 total first half points kept Dreher close.

Dreher's Emily Newton looks to pass around A.C. Flora's Allie Gaddis.

Stubbs started the second half with a three- point shot that gave A.C. Flora a 28- 20 lead, but then Dreher's full court pressure started to turn the tide. The Lady Falcons' next 16 possessions resulted in ten turnovers and three points. McNeal had three steals and 14 fast break points in the period to earn Dreher a 40- 31 lead at the end of three.

McNeal picked up where she left off in the third picking off an A.C. Flora pass and feeding it to Christa Canty for two to start the fourth. After McNeal's runner through the lane with 5:55 remaining, Dreher led 48- 31.

The Lady Falcons kept fighting and went on a 7- 0 run. Stubbs's four points and Roach's conventional three- point play brought the Falcons within ten with 3:39 to play.

Alexis Jacobs' jumper with 1:20 remaining drew A.C. Flora within eight at 56- 48, but the Lady Devils closed the game out with a 5- 2 run off two long passes over the Lady Falcon press.

Along with McNeal's 24 points, Newton had 16, Shakeina Smith added seven, Wiggins finished with five, Canty had four, Boone got three, and Lauren Dreher added two.

A.C. Flora was led by Stubbs's 14 points. Despite being injured late in the first period and foul trouble, Roach added 12 points. Bria Kitt and Alexis Jacobs each had seven points, Allie Gaddis finshed with six, and Emani Harrison got five points.