With University of Tennessee Coach Kellie Harper looking on, Bearden’s Natalya Hodge scored a tournament best 36 points and led the Lady Bulldogs to a 71-61 win over Steward School of Virginia Friday evening.
Hodge, along with teammate Kendall Anne Murphy who scored 22, supplied Bearden’s offense accounting for 58 of the team’s total points. Hodge also had eight rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Steward also has a standout college prospect in Sanai Green, only a sophomore, who already has amassed over 50 Division 1 offers. She scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds. The Cardinals had Ava Johnson and Ella Grace Saunders with 12 points each and Tori West added 10.
The game was played at an up-and-down pace, with Steward holding a 17-14 first quarter lead and Bearden moving into a 35-30 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs were able to maintain that slender cushion until midway of the fourth period when they expanded the lead to double digits.
Bearden will play in the sixth place game Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Game Stats:
BEARDEN (71): Natalya Hodge 14-28 3-7 36, Wilhoit 3-6 0-0 8, Kendall Anne Murphy 5-8 11-13 22, Wilson 0-1 1-2 1, Cox 2-6 0-0 4, Patel 0-3 0-0 0, Mills 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24-53 15-22 71
STEWARD (61): Tori West 3-11 2-2 10, Thoman 1-6 0-0 3, Ella Grace Saunders 4-10 0-0 12, Harris 2-5 1-2 5, Ava Johnson 5-7 0-0 12, Sanai Green 8-17 3-5 19. TOTALS: 23-56 6-9 61.
3-Point Goals: BHS—8 (Hodge 5, Wilhoit 2, Murphy). SS—9 (Saunders 4, West 2, Johnson 2, Thoman).
