Point Lookout, MO – Looking to compile their longest win streak of the season, the Lady Cats hosted the Trailblazers of University of North Texas – Dallas Thursday night in Sooner Athletic Conference Action.

Susie Moran opened the scoring with a pair of free throws to start the game and Abbey Linville drained a free throw of her own to give the Lady Cats the early lead. Blythe Benefield pulled down a rebound and went coast-to-coast to keep pace with the challenging Trailblazers, and on the next possession, Logan Jones dished an assist to Benefield, for another layup. As the teams traded baskets, a Logan Jones mid-range jumper gave the Lady Cats a 9-7 lead. The Lady Cats turned up the pressure and a Taylor Rush fast break layup forced a Trailblazers timeout. Logan Jones and Susie Moran added to the Lady Cat lead, but the Trailblazers refused to go away. The Lady Cat defense continued to shine, holding the Trailblazers offense scoreless for over five minutes. A Taylor Rush jumper and a Keara Mattingley free throw closed out the first quarter scoring and the Lady Cats took a 17-10 lead to the quarter break.

The Trailblazers were first to score in the second quarter, and neither team scored again until the 7:50 mark. Susie Moran broke the silence for the Lady Cats before the Trailblazers put together a run of their own and evened the score at 19-19. A Susie Moran bucket was followed by back-to-back Logan Jones threes to build the lead back to seven. The Trailblazers responded with a three, but Logan Jones again provided the answer. Following several scoreless possessions, Keara Mattingley scored, and the Lady Cats led at the half, 31-27.

A Susie Moran layup led off the second half, and she continued to lead the charge posting to first eight lady Cat points. A Trailblazers timeout was called at the 6:20 mark with the Lady Cats up 39-29. Taylor Rush connected on a free throw, but the Trailblazers answered with a jumper. A Keara Mattingley bucket and a Moran free throw extended the lead back to 10. The Trailblazers scored back-to-back baskets to cut the gap before Moran connected on a pair from the line again. After two Trailblazer free throws, Taylor Rush connected from mid-range, and the teams continued to go back and forth. The Trailblazers put together a run and soon cut the deficit to three. The Lady Cats held off the challenges to end the quarter leading 48-46.

Logan Jones nailed a three to start the fourth, but the Trailblazers quickly responded with a three of their own. After a couple defensive stops from both sides, Logan Jones drained a deep three to extend the Lady Cat lead. Taylor Rush joined in on the fun with back-to-back threes to bump the Lady Cat lead to 9. The Trailblazers put up two straight baskets and called a timeout, now only down four. A Moran layup was answered with a Trailblazers three and the race was on. Taylor Rush answered with a mid-range jumper and the Lady Cat defense followed with a key stop. Points by Moran and Abbey Linville put the Lady Cats up by seven with 3:15 remaining. Susie Moran completed a three-point play before a Trailblazers bucket cut the Lady Cat lead back to seven. Moran and Rush added to the lead and the Trailblazers took a timeout with 1:04 remaining. Blythe Benefield capped the Lady Cat scoring, and the Lady Cats secured the 80-64 win.

Susie Moran led the offense with 27 points and 19 rebounds. Taylor Rush provided 20 points and Logan Jones added 18.

The Lady Cats return to action at home on Saturday, January 11 at 2:00 PM against Nelson University.