North Union’s Audrey Benedict guards Lauren Leslie of Ridgedale during Saturday’s non-league girls basketball game at Ridgedale. The Lady Cats pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 47-25 victory over the Lady Rockets. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
There were few blips along the way, but there were many more high points for North Union on Saturday as the Lady Cats defeated Ridgedale 47-25 on the Lady Rocket hardwood.
“I was able to see a lot of things that will help us along the way,” North Union coach Bre Jackson said.
Several times during the game North Union (2-0) was able to go on scoring runs to overcome any Ridgedale attempt to stage a comeback.
The first scoring spurt came early in the first quarter after Ridgedale (1-2) took a 4-2 lead.
Jada Davis hit a foul line jumper to tie the contest and Taran Moran got loose inside for a basket to make it 6-4.
The three-point line became a Lady Cat friend.
Audrey Benedict and Zoe Wedding each hit treys, pushing NU’s advantage to 12-4 at the 3:15 mark of the period.
A free throw by Emily Mulvaine got Ridgedale to within 14-7.
Hope Hall connected on a three-point shot and Abbey Price added a free throw as North Union led 18-10 at the end of the first frame.
Jackson noted the Lady Cats got a little out of sort offensively in the second quarter.
“In the second quarter we got a little frantic,” she said.
North Union, however, still played good defense, limiting Ridgedale to just six points in the stanza.
Moran’s inside basket with 1:42 on the timer gave the Lady Cats a 25-16 halftime cushion.
Ridgedale opened the third quarter with a three-point goal by Hannah Cook to make it 25-19.
Ridgedale, though, scored just three points the rest of the stanza.
A rebound basket by Price opened a spurt in which North Union scored 10 of the next 12 points.
Benedict scored twice from close range.
Davis hit a left-lane jumper and Allison Price added a layup to make it 35-21 with just under two minutes left in the third quarter.
Ridgedale scored the first three markers of the fourth period, but North Union put the game out of reach with 16 straight points.
Price scored twice from inside while Hall and Wedding each hit a three-point goal.
Allison Price competed the scoring with a drive-for-two for the final count of 47-25.
“In the second half we took better care of the basketball, but still stayed aggressive,” Jackson said. “We did a much better job defensively and were able to get some steals.”
No player hit for double figures for North Union, but Abbey Price and Benedict each tallied nine points and Hall added eight.
Abbey Price grabbed seven rebounds with Hall, Davis and Wedding each dishing out three assists.
Davis also picked up six steals.
Ridgedale was led by Raylynn Mullin and Caitlyn Thiel with eight points each.
North Union returns to action Wednesday at Jonathan Alder.
NORTH UNION
Benedict 4-0-9, Davis 3-1-7, Ab. Price 3-3-9, Wedding 2-0-6, Hall 3-0-8, Moran 2-0-4, Al. Price 2-0-4, Wills 0-0-0. Three-point goals: Wedding 2, Hall 2. Benedict.
RIDGEDALE
Mulling 3-2-8, Thiel 3-0-8, Mulvaine 2-1-5, Merby 1-0-2, Ruth 1-0-2.
NU 18 7 10 12—47
R’dale 10 6 6 3—25