The free-throw line was the Helias Lady Crusaders' best friend Thursday night.
Helias scored nearly half its points from the charity stripe, going 24-of-32 from the line to beat the Hickman Kewpies 49-38 on Senior Night at Rackers Fieldhouse.
"Earlier in the year, I wanted to get to the free-throw line," Helias coach Alan Lepper said. "But three weeks ago, we were shooting, as a team, 49 percent.
"These kids have not given up in any ballgame. These kids just keep competing."
The Lady Crusaders went to the line on 16 of the Kewpies' 20 fouls, constantly attacking the basket in an attempt to get Emma Chapman, Hickman's 6-foot-3 junior, into foul trouble.
"We wanted to get her in foul trouble, get her out of the game," Lepper said. "That equalized everything out."
Helias scored eight points from the free-throw line in the first quarter to lead Hickman 12-7.
The Lady Crusaders made just two baskets in the second quarter, adding three more free throws. Hickman's Maci Kuchta knocked down a 3-pointer with :02 left to cut Helias' halftime lead to 20-18.
It was a rare 3-pointer for the Kewpies, who finished 3-of-24 beyond the arc. Helias ran a zone defense all game - either a 2-3 or a 1-2-2 - and limited Hickman's looks inside, making it difficult for Chapman to get touches in the paint.
"We didn't want her to go crazy on us," Lepper said of Chapman. "We wanted the other kids to beat us. You have to know where their shooters are at, and we lost them a couple times in this game, but for the most part we did OK."
Lauren Alexander, one of three Helias seniors honored before the game, scored a layup off a steal to start the second half. Hickman answered to tie the game at 22, but Alexander knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:15 left in the third to give the Lady Crusaders the lead for good.
"When Lauren is on her game, both inside and out, it's hard to beat us," Lepper said. "Lauren can spot up and hit the 3, or she can go off and get 25 points from getting to the rim."
Ellie Rockers left the game at the 3:49 mark of the third with a right shoulder injury, but she was able to return at the start of the fourth with Helias leading 34-27. Rockers was one of three Lady Crusaders to reach double figures in scoring with 10 points, adding a team-high seven rebounds.
Helias made 7-of-8 free throws to finish the third quarter, then Alexander made another 3 to open the fourth quarter, stretching the lead to double digits.
Rockers drove to the basket to score both Helias field goals in the fourth, and on another drive, she got Chapman to foul out with 3:40 to play, leaving the game with just six points.
Senior Erin Wyrick became very familiar with the free-throw line, finishing 10-of-12 from the stripe in the win. She matched Alexander with a game-high 14 points.
"She's done that all year," Lepper said. "She's the leading free-throw shooter on the team. She gets to the line and makes her free throws. Last time I checked, she was a 77-percent free-throw shooter, and for a post player, that's not bad."
Helias' third senior Rachel Schulte, got into the scoring column by making 1-of-2 free throws with :28 left.
"My bench was like, 'Coach, we've got to get her to score,'" Lepper said. "Rachel's hitting free throws really well this year, so when she missed the first one, I told her to just put the second one in, and as soon as she released it, I knew it was in."
Taylor Spencer led Hickman (3-17) with 10 points and was one of four Kewpies to grab six rebounds.
Helias (13-9) will close the regular season with three straight road games. The Lady Crusaders play Tuesday at Father Tolton.