Following a tough opening act, the Lady Falcons didn't disappoint in the closer.
After falling behind North Callaway 9-0 in the opening minutes, Blair Oaks finished the game on a 13-0 run to pull out a 52-40 victory Monday night.
"I think we turned up the intensity a little bit," Blair Oaks coach Leroy Bernskoetter said. "I think we're capable of doing that."
Locked in a tight battle for most of the game, North Callaway took a 40-39 lead with 6:09 remaining on a basket by Maddie Sorell. That was the last time the Lady Thunderbirds would score.
A putback by Amanda Rackers with 5:40 left gave Blair Oaks a 41-40 lead. After a pair of free throws by LeeAnn Polowy, Rackers hit a jumper from the corner with 2:55 left to give the Lady Falcons a 45-40 lead.
The Lady Falcons (14-2) spread the floor in the final two minutes and hit 10-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
"We had a nice little set, scored, and got a five-point cushion," Bernskoetter said. "I knew if we could spread the floor a little bit on them we'd be all right."
Blair Oaks' big fourth quarter was aided by North Callaway's inability to make shots. The Lady Thunderbirds hit just 3-of-14 shots in the fourth quarter, missing on their last 10 from the field.
- Florida (21-2) beat Tennessee 94-78. Next: at Georgia, Wednesday.
- Wisconsin (22-2) beat Northwestern 69-52. Next: at Penn State, Wednesday.
- North Carolina (20-3) lost to N.C. State 83-79. Next: at No. 8 Duke, Wednesday.
- Ohio State (20-3) beat Michigan State 63-54. Next: vs. Michigan, Tuesday.
- UCLA (20-2) beat Oregon State 82-35. Next: vs. Southern California, Wednesday.
- Kansas (19-3) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M. Next: vs. Kansas State, Wednesday.
- Pittsburgh (20-3) did not play. Next: at West Virginia, Wednesday.
- Duke (18-4) did not play. Next: vs. Florida State, Sunday.
- Oregon (19-4) lost to Southern California 71-68. Next: vs. Arizona State, Thursday.
- Texas A&M (18-3) at No. 6 Kansas. Next: vs. No. 22 Texas, Monday.
- Memphis (19-3) beat SMU 88-52. Next: at UAB, Thursday.
- Oklahoma State (18-4) lost to Colorado 89-77. Next: at Oklahoma, Wednesday.
- Butler (22-2) beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 66-47. Next: at Cleveland State, Thursday.
- Marquette (20-4) beat Providence 69-62. Next: vs. Rutgers, Wednesday.
- Nevada (20-2) vs. Hawaii. Next: at Fresno State, Thursday.
- Virginia Tech (16-7) lost to Boston College 80-59. Next: vs. Virginia, Saturday.
- Air Force (20-3) beat Wyoming 88-43. Next: at San Diego State, Tuesday.
- Washington State (18-4) at Arizona State. Next: vs. No. 23 Stanford, Thursday.
- Alabama (17-5) beat South Carolina 64-61. Next: vs. Mississippi State, Wednesday.
- Arizona (15-7) beat Washington 84-54. Next: at Arizona State, Thursday.
- Notre Dame (18-4) at South Florida. Next: at DePaul, Thursday.
- Texas (16-6) lost to Kansas State 73-72. Next: at No. 10 Texas A&M, Saturday.
- Stanford (14-6) at California. Next: at No. 18 Washington State, Thursday.
- Vanderbilt (15-7) vs. Georgia. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.
- Clemson (18-5) lost to Georgia Tech 80-62. Next: vs. Florida State, Wednesday.