Lady Hornets win two games, while Hornets manage a split
Martin Couch Sports editor

HORNETS BRENDA GARNER PHOTOS Above, the Hornets battle against Benton; below, Bryant's Josh Hampton.

The Bryant freshman Lady Hornets went 2-0 in league games against Benton and Conway White.

Bryant defeated Benton 27- 16, with Marie Mueller leading the way with 13 points. The Lady Hornets came back later in the week to pick up a 36-34 victory at home against Conway White. This time, Taylor Neal led with 13 points, while Mueller added 12.

"It was a back-and-forth game," said Bryant head coach Eric Andrews. "We were able to build up a lead several times, only to see them come roaring back. Our girls did a very good job adjusting to different situations during the game.

"I was very proud of the poise that we had at the end of the game. I felt that we were calm and that allowed us to hang on for the win."

Bryant's Abbi Stearns led the Lady Hornets with nine rebounds. Tarra Hendricks added five points, Stearns scored four points and Sydney Hoffmans added a basket in the victory that puts the Lady Hornets at 2- 0 in the Central Arkansas Conference standings.

Against Benton, the Lady Hornets trailed the Lady Warriors 12-7, but fought back to close within one point by halftime 14-13.

After halftime, Bryant held Benton scoreless in the third period and took a 19-14 lead. By then end of the game, the Lady Hornets defense had held Benton to only two second-half points.

Along with Mueller's 13, Stearns scored eight points, Neal added four and Hoffmans scored two.

"We once again got off to a slow start," Andrews said. "Our defense picked up in the second half, allowing only two points in the second half. It was not pretty, but it was a conference win."

Hornets

The Bryant Hornets freshman squad broke a four-game losing streak on Friday with a 48-38 home victory against Conway White.

"We did better on our free throws and we were more patient with the ball," said Bryant head coach Steve Wilson. "We were able to get the ball inside more."

Josh Hampton led Bryant with 15 points, while Houston Garner added 10 points in the win.

LADIES BRENDA GARNER PHOTO The Bryant Lady Hornets play defense against the Benton Lady Warriors.

Before that, the Hornets had lost its past four games.

"Things weren't clicking," Wilson said. "This is a long season, and we have time to improve, but we need to start making some progress. We have talent; we just have to get everyone working better together."