The LMS Tigerettes (4-4) got off to slow start versus archrival Whitthorne on Tuesday in Lewisburg before exploding in the second half for a big 31-14 win over their namesakes from Columbia.

"We told the girls before the game that we needed to start strong and finish stronger and I feel like we did that," said LMS head Coach Chris Coleman. "After a sluggish first half offensively, we really picked it up in the second half."

Low scoring

Leah Hollingsworth scored the only two baskets for LMS in the first quarter, but Whitthorne only managed one by Tatyana Harlan, as the offense was limited.

Macy Gilliam tied the game early in the second quarter for Whitthorne before a Sydney Solomon bucket put the Tigerettes back in front 6-4.

With just under three minutes to play in the stanza, LMS guard Demariae Ingram stole the rock from Whitthorne and fed Hollingsworth for a long three-pointer, extending the Tigerettes' lead to 9-4.

One free throw apiece by Solomon and Hollingsworth made it 11-4 before Harlan was able to score at the end of the first half, making it an 11-6 contest in favor of the Lewisburg girls.

Stretching lead

Solomon nailed a jumper at the outset of the second half and added a basket on the run off a Hollingsworth pass to make it 15-6 before Hollingsworth banged home a three-bomb, stretching the LMS lead to 18-6.

With 2:26 remaining the third quarter, Solomon nailed two free throws and it looked like the Tigerettes would pitch a shutout on defense in the stanza before Gilliam scored with a few ticks left.

"Outside of giving up a few offensive rebounds, I was pleased with our defensive effort the entire game," said Coleman.

LMS took a 20-8 lead into the final six minutes and Solomon and Hollingsworth turned it on a little bit more, combining for nine straight points to take a commanding 29-8 lead.

Consistency

"Leah and Sydne were consistent in their scoring throughout the game, and that's what we need from them every night," said Coleman.

Whitthorne scored six straight, but the game ended on a rebound and put-back by Mary Clayton Beech, putting the cap on the 17-point win for LMS.

"We have a long way to go, but we are improving and that's what the regular season is all about," said Coleman.

Solomon finished with 16 points, leading all scorers in the contest, while Hollingsworth was also in double figures with 13 and Beech was the only other LMS player on the tally sheet with a deuce.