Sports Editor

Abbeville Christian’s Lauren Ethridge dropped in 16 points to lead the Lady Generals over the Pike Liberal Arts School Lady Patriots on Tuesday night, 51-43.

PLAS’s Beth Anderson, playing in her first competitive basketball game in almost two years, equalled Ethridge’s performance with 16 points of her own.

Anderson was a late transfer to Pike from Bullock Memorial last season, but was forced to sit out a year.

The Lady Patriots led last season’s AISA Class A state-runner-up 26-23 at halftime, largely on the strength of Anderson’s 10 points and Rae Pinckard’s eight. Pinckard also had ten boards in the first half, while Anderson dished out three assists.

Bess Skipper’s two-pointer tied the game after the first quarter at 12-12. Baskets by Anderson, Pinckard, and Karli Tribe gave the Lady Patriots a 22-16 lead. PLAS was able to get two more scores from Danielle Johnson and Tribe, giving Pike the halftime edge.

Abbeville came out in the third quarter and claimed the lead for good with an 8-1 run. An inside layup by Ethridge gave ACA the lead and a two-pointer by Holly Smith pushed that lead to 31-27 with under three minutes to play in the quarter.

Anderson answered with a three-pointer for the Lady Patriots, but Skipper responded with back-to-back shots from behind the arc, as well as a two-point basket in the final seconds to close out the period.

Jeff Davis transfer Lindy Lukenheimer scored nine points in the final quarter for Pike Lib.

Following Ethridge, Skipper had 12 points and Smith had 10 points.

The Lady Patriots next take the court at Hooper on Tuesday, Nov. 27.