The Lady Spartans made the short trip to Warren Central Wednesday night looking to continue their four game winning streak. Central, however, was the team with the hot start, riding early buckets from Tia Barnett and Lashae Halsel. Central’s control of the game ended when Halsel picked up her second foul early in the first half and was forced to sit on the bench.
From that point forward, Caroline Cowles took over for South Warren. Cowles asserted her dominance defensively, swatting shots out of bounds, and on the offensive glass. She led the Lady Spartans in scoring in the first half with eight points.
Warren Central trailed by 13 at the half but sparked a comeback behind seven straight points from Junior Guard Noochie Patterson. Central cut the lead down to three points late in the third period prompting a South Warren timeout.
The turning point in the game came shortly after that stoppage in play.
Leading by 5…South Warren’s Amaya Lasley came up with a steal and started on the fast break.
As Noochie Patterson attempted to regain ground defensively, she pulled up lame with an apparent calf injury, allowing Lasley to convert the layup.
WIth Patterson, Central’s leading scorer, on the bench, the Lady Spartans jumped back out to a 13 point lead and won the game by that margin 59-46.
Warren Central 46 South Warren 59
Noochie Patterson 15 Amaya Lasley 18
Tia Barnett 12
Lashae Halsel 8
