RACHEL RUTHERFORD TURKEY CROSSOVER CLASSIC

Tolefree carries load for Conway

Alexis Tolefree's string of 30-point games ended Saturday afternoon, but Conway's winning streak remained intact.

Tolefree scored 24 points and made five steals -- all in the first half -- as the Lady Wampus Cats routed Dollarway 80-26 in the Rachel Rutherford Turkey Crossover Classic at Pulaski Academy.

Coming off a career-best 45-point effort against Cabot on Tuesday for her third consecutive effort of at least 30 points, Tolefree made 11 of 13 field-goal attempts against the overmatched Lady Cardinals. The University of Central Arkansas signee scored 13 points in the first quarter and had 24 by halftime as Conway built a 56-15 lead.

"She's had a chip on her shoulder a little bit," Conway Coach Ashley Nance said of Tolefree. "She's coming off that state final game where she just didn't play very well. She has felt that pressure since that game. Since the horn went off, she's felt it was her fault."

Tolefree played less than two minutes in the second half where she did not attempt a shot.

Conway (6-0) dominated from the start, scoring the game's first 18 points. The Wampus Cats led 21-5 after the first quarter before pouncing on the Cardinals in the second quarter, outscoring them 35-10.

Junior Savannah Lowe scored 15 of her 17 points in the quarter. Senior guard Hailey Estes hit 3 three-pointers and finished with 11 points, 4 assists and 4 steals. Junior post player Fut'ra Banks scored 10 points, grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds, blocked 3 shots and made 4 steals.

Dollarway (4-3) was coming off a 50-45 victory over Brookland on Friday.

"Our [goal] was to hold them to 15 points or less in the first half," Nance said. "Right now, we're not so focused on the big picture or the end game with this group after losing six seniors. We just want to focus on piece by piece.

"For us to hold a team like Dollarway to 15 or less, especially with their athleticism, I was really pleased."

Dollarway did not score until the 2:51 mark of the first quarter when Jayana Sanders hit an 8-footer from inside the lane. Sanders finished with a team-high 13 points. Sevenity Alexander added 12 points and eight rebounds for Dollarway.

Conway hit 33 of 52 shots from the floor and outrebounded Dollarway 33-21.

Conway is off until next Saturday when it has a home game against Springdale.

Sports on 11/29/2015

Upcoming Events