A third-quarter run powered the Helias Lady Crusaders.
Helias came back from a one-point halftime deficit to beat the Battle Spartans 55-48 in a Central Missouri Activities Conference matchup Tuesday at Rackers Fieldhouse.
Mikah Edwards ran the Helias offense early, scoring or assisting on 10 of the Lady Crusaders’ 12 points in the first quarter to help build a 12-11 lead at the first break, but Battle connected on three 3s in the second quarter to take a 24-23 lead into halftime.
Out of the break, Battle connected on another 3 to go ahead 27-23, then Helias got going.
Alaina Meyer assisted Adalyn Koelling for a layup before Claire Galbraith dished an assist to Koelling for another to tie the game at 27 with 6:52 left in the third. Galbraith assisted Koelling again, this time for a 3 from the top of the key, to give Helias the lead it wouldn’t give up at 30-27.
After a Battle layup, Edwards turned a steal into a layup and Kenadi Harrison assisted a cutting Galbraith for a layup to complete a 11-2 run and go ahead 34-29. The Lady Crusaders continued to push to a 40-33 lead after three quarters.
Koelling led Helias with 18 points, while also dishing out four assists. Edwards had a team-high five assists to go with 14 points, while Galbraith added 10 points.
Helias (17-4, 2-1 CMAC), which is ranked No. 3 in Class 5, returns to the court Friday when it plays at Quincy (Ill.) Notre Dame.
Battle (16-6, 3-2), which is receiving votes in Class 6, will play at St. James next Tuesday.
In Tuesday's JV game, Helias dropped a 37-31 decision to Battle. Maddy Larkin and Lauren Verslues had nine points each for the Lady Crusaders.
In a freshman game played at Columbia, Helias defeated Battle 46-15. Josie Francka had 22 points for the Lady Crusaders, who end the season with a record of 12-0.