Alexis VanDyke knocked down a three-pointer and scored five points and Allison Czyzewski scored four more, helping the Lady Cardinals open a 14-12 lead after the first eight minutes. Miah Ballard hit a three and tallied nine points in the second quarter, as North Clay expanded the margin to eight points, 29-21, at intermission.

Lucy Fearday helped keep the Lady Bulldogs within striking distance by scoring 12 points in the first half.

“Lucy was able to get some big buckets for us,” Rios said. “Typically, we have other players that are scoring, too. But they couldn’t get going. We were either 0-for-12 or 0-for-14 on shots from 10 to 12 feet. Those are shots we normally make. We just didn’t shoot the ball well at all until the third quarter.”

North Clay started double-teaming Fearday, so Rios moved his post player to the top of the key.

“They tried face-guarding her in the paint and then bringing someone else over to help as well,” Rios explained. “So, we put her at the top of the key and the lane opened up like the Red Sea. We were much more aggressive to the basket and started making shots.”

Especially Ruholl and Faber.

Ruholl connected on a pair of threes and scored eight points and Faber tallied seven more to spark the comeback. That helped the Lady Bulldogs go on a 19-5 run in the third period and turn the halftime deficit into a 40-34 advantage.

St. Anthony kept it up in the final eight minutes. Ruholl went 5-for-6 from the free throw line and Faber, Fearday and Addi Nuxoll each scored four points. As a result, the Lady Bulldogs maintained control of the game and finished with the 13-point decision.

“I don’t know what’s going on in the first half,” Rios admitted. “That’s the second game in a row we’ve had a bad first half. We can’t take two quarters off like we did the last two games and expect to do well in the sectional. We’ll be in trouble.”

Ballard finished with a game-high 20 points for the Lady Cardinals, who finished 21-10 on the season. VanDyke and Czyzewski both had 10.

Ruholl had 17 points for the Lady Bulldogs, while Fearday scored 16 and Faber added 14.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 27-5 on the season and will now prepare for Tuscola.

“It’s always hard to beat a good team twice in the same year,” Rios said. “They are a defensive-minded team. We can’t shoot the ball like we have in the first half the last two games. They are a very good team, so we’ll prepare for a tough game.”