Photo by Jim Marczesky Hammond's Elaine Epting rebounds over CN's Alex August. Epting had 18 points and 16 rebounds against CN. Elaine Epting had 18 points and 16 rebounds, and fellow sophomore Kaki Smith added 13 points, including the game- winning free throws with 28 seconds left as the Hammond Lady Skyhawks defeated the visiting Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals 36- 35 on Tuesday, January 20.

The Lady Skyhawks, with six points from Smith, jumped out to a 12- 2 lead in the first quarter as the Lady Cardinals missed their first nine shots. Finally, Alex August scored off a dish from her sister Tori to give Cardinal Newman its first bucket with 15 seconds left in the quarter. Molly Rainwater then hit a three at the first quarter buzzer to pare the lead to five.

The Lady Cardinals outscored Hammond 14- 6 in the second quarter to take a 21- 18 halftime lead.

After senior Lauren Nottoli deposited a three to build Cardinal Newman's lead to six one minute into the third quarter, the Lady Skyhawks reeled off 15 unan- swered points over the next eight minutes to take a 33- 24 lead early in the fourth. Epting scored 10 of her points during this stretch.

Tori August hit two free throws at 6:31 of the fourth to stop the run, and then the Lady Cardinals scored nine of the next 10 points to take a 35- 34 lead on freshman Annalise Hughen's bank shot with 1:49 to go. Hammond missed six consecutive free throws, including the front ends of two one- and- ones, in this time.

Finally, following numerous missed shots and turnovers, Smith was fouled on a shot attempt with 28 seconds left and calmly drained both free throws. After a tie- up and a timeout, the Lady Cardinals tried to get the ball to Nottoli for a game- winning attempt, but the pass sailed high and over her outstretched hands with 3.6 seconds left. But Tori August intercepted the inbounds pass and got the ball to Rainwater, whose shot at the buzzer drew iron and bounced away.

Rainwater led the Lady Cardinals with 14 points and five steals. Tori August added 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lady Cardinals host region leader Heathwood Hall on Friday, January 23. Hammond hosts St. Joseph's from Greenville on Friday.