ROCKINGHAM — Moving one game closer to clinching the Sandhills Athletic Conference regular-season title, the Lady Raider basketball team won big Tuesday.
Extending their season-long winning streak to 11 games, the Lady Raiders remained undefeated against SAC opponents.
Hosting Union Pines High School, Richmond completed the two-game regular season sweep with a 72-37 victory.
Although the Lady Raiders didn’t secure their fourth straight running-clock victory, they did lead by as many as 37 points a couple of times in the fourth quarter.
Nine players scored for Richmond, led by junior point guard Jamyia Lindsey’s game-high 30 points. She had eight rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Three players nearly reached double-digits —sophomore Jasiah Gilchrist (nine points) and junior Rena Drake and freshman Madisen Jackson (eight points each).
Gilchrist recorded four rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Jackson pulled in a team-high 12 boards.
Senior Ryelan Lyerly chipped in six points and senior MaKailah Jackson scored four points with 10 rebounds.
Other scorers were senior C’Niya Hinson (three points, three rebounds) and seniors Jamia Crowder and Ciera Marshall (two points each).
Union Pines managed to hold a one-possession lead during the opening three minutes of the game. Putbacks by the Jackson sisters pulled Richmond within a point 5-4.
Lyerly gave the Lady Raiders the lead for good with a three-pointer from the right corner with 4:35 on the clock. That was followed by a Lindsey triple from the top to give Richmond a 10-5 lead.
That forced a timeout by Union Pines (10-10, 4-5 SAC). But the final four minutes belonged to the Lady Raiders, who closed on an 8-2 stretch.
After two free throws by Union Pines, Lindsey splashed down her second triple in the early going. A field goal apiece from Drake and Lindsey, along with a Hinson free throw made it an 18-7 lead.
The Lady Vikings scored the first basket of the second quarter, which was answered by a 17-0 run by the Lady Raiders.
Lindsey started the barrage with a floater, followed by three points from Madisen Jackson and two transition buckets by Gilchrist off steals.
Drake made a smooth hook shot, which was followed by two points apiece from Lindsey and Drake. A bucket from MaKailah Jackson made it a 35-9 lead.
Two close range buckets from Lindsey and Lyerly gave Richmond a 39-15 lead at the break. Lindsey had 14 points going into the locker room.
An 18-13 run by Richmond in the third quarter put the Lady Raiders up by as many as 30 points. Lindsey scored 10 of her 16 second-half points on four field goals and two free throws.
Madisen Jackson had her final three points on a field goal and free throw, while Drake and Hinson both scored a bucket to cap their scoring. Lyerly knocked down a shot from the line.
Heading into the fourth quarter up 57-28, head coach Teddy Moseley inserted subs for the majority of the final eight minutes. Lindsey stayed in to control the tempo and added her final six points on a trio of close-range buckets.
Gilchrist drained a three-pointer and added a field goal for her final five points. Marshall made a mid-range jumper in the paint and Crowder scored her two points on an offensive rebound putback.
Union Pines was led in scoring by Taryn Pekala and Corryn McCutchen, who both scored 12 points.
The Lady Raiders (18-4, 10-0 SAC) round out the week Friday at Lee County High School (9-8, 5-4 SAC).
A win over the Lady Yellow Jackets would tie the longest winning streak for the team under Moseley, which was accomplished two seasons ago. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial game stats provided by assistant coach Taneika Reader.
