After taking one out of two ballgames last weekend at the Stewarts Creek Middle School Tournament, the FMS Lady Rockets returned to Chapel Hill for a clash with Liberty on Monday and after battling back to lead in the fourth quarter, Forrest could not hold and fell 27-25.

It was a low scoring contest from the start as each team scored just three apiece in the first quarter.

Close contest

Liberty's Sydney Eli and Forrest's Madison Curtis exchanged buckets to begin the second quarter before the Lady Pats scored four straight to take a 9-5 lead.

Emma Stacey lifted FMS back to a 9-9 tie with a pair of jumpers from the wing, but the first half ended in Liberty's favor via an A.J. Mitchell three-bomb from the top of the key, giving the visitors a 12-9 lead.

Liberty would build their lead to as much as eight points on several occasions in the third quarter before the gutsy Lady Rockets came back late, beginning with a steal and score by Katey Harmon and a deep three-ball from Curtis, making it an 18-15 ballgame with 40 seconds to play in the period.

Mitchell spoiled the Forrest fun again, draining another long trey to give Liberty a 21-15 margin, entering the final six minutes of play.

Playing catch-up

The fourth period began in style as Jordan Yelensky stole the ball from Liberty, leading to a fast break bucket by Harmon.

After a Lady Patriot turnover, Harmon scored on a rebound and put-back, making it a two-point game at 21-19.

A missed shot by the Lady Pats turned in to the game tying points at the other end when Caitlin McKenzie rose up in the low post for a jumper that hit nothing but the bottom of the net, sending the home crowd crazy in adulation.

In front

Then the Chapel Hill faithful went into a total frenzy when Harmon swiped the rock and raced in for the go-ahead score with four minutes remaining in the game.

Mitchell answered with a bucket in the paint for Liberty, but Mckenzie tallied another basket in the low post for FMS, making it 25-23 with 2:39 left.

Eli kissed a layup off the glass to re-knot the game at 25 and that would be the score until Liberty's Sierra Carr hit the go-ahead jumper with four seconds remaining in the game.

That would be the game winner as a last ditch FMS effort fell short.

Scoring

Mitchell led all scorers in the contest with 14 points.

Harmon, who was in foul trouble most of the night, ended up with eight points and eight rebounds.

Stacey also scored eight points and had four rebounds, McKenzie added five points, Curtis scored four points, and Stevie Ray did not score, but hauled down five rebounds for FMS.

O Tuesday, the Lady Rockets beat Westwood in Manchester to improve to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play.