By By Matthew Nascone
The Escambia Academy Lady Cougars did something they have not done all year on Dec. 7. The Lady Cougars (1-5) closed out a game and got a 49-26 win over the South Montgomery Christian Academy Lady Raiders at home.
"We finally flipped it and had our better half in the second half," EA head coach Keri Payne said. "It sure feels good to get that first win because it takes that pressure off our shoulders. We played to the other team's level in the first half, but we played a lot better in the second half."
The Lady Cougars led 20-11 at halftime, but poured it on in the second half, outscoring SMCA 29-15. EA's defense also held the Lady Raiders to three points in the final quarter.
The Lady Cougars also accomplished one of the goals Payne set out for them. Senior Clare Jones and sophomore Jordan Jaye both reached double digits in scoring. Jones had 23 points and Jaye added 18.
"I have been trying to tell them that we need at least two girls in double digits to win games," Payne said. "They hustled out there and we got that goal."
Jones was two rebounds and three assists away from a triple double with eight assists and seven assists to go along with seven steals. Jaye added eight rebounds and two steals.
Junior Malori McGhee, sophomore Kay Leigh Miller and freshmen Amber Huskey and Taylor Helton each added 2 points. McGhee had two assists and one steal, Miller had five assists and one steal and Helton had one block.
Junior Sara Beth Davis had seven rebounds and junior Alaina Arnold contributed three steals and two rebounds.
The Lady Cougars faced Southern Academy Monday night and the results will be in an upcoming Advance. Next up for EA is the Monroe Academy Tournament in Monroeville Dec. 14-15.