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Lady Mustangs defeat Blue Ridge in opener
Crisp Smoky Mountain's Katie Crisp looks to pass around Elyse Long of Blue Ridge in the Lady Mustangs' 44-33 victory Friday. - Herald photo by Carey Phillips Smoky Mountain's women's basketball team opened its season at home Friday with a 44-33 victory over Blue Ridge.

Christy Pruett scored 10 of her 11 points in the first half and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Lady Mustangs.

Ashley Fowler of Blue Ridge (2-1) was the game's top scorer with 12 points.

"We were glad to open the season with a victory," SM Coach Cindi Simmons said. "We continued to play better as the game went along. We had 10 people score so we weren't relying on one player."

"Our shots would not fall," Blue Ridge Coach Arnold Nicholson said. "We played a pretty good game. Smoky did a better job rebounding."

Fowler's 17-footer opened the scoring with less than a minute elapsed, but that would be the Lady Bobcats lone lead of the night.

SM's Jennifer Hyatt scored the next four points, and her team never trailed again. Two baskets by Pruett allowed the Lady Mustangs to hold an 8-4 edge at the quarter break.

Moody Shauna Moody puts up a shot for Blue Ridge in Friday's 44-33 loss to Smoky Mountain. Defending for the Lady Mustangs are Christy Pruett (left) and Tori Kelly. - Herald photo by Carey Phillips Pruett's follow shot made it 12-6 with 6:10 left in the half.

Ashley Brabanec capped an 8-2 run as blue Ridge drew even 14-14 at the 2:19 mark.

A foul shot by Ashley Holmes gave SM the lead for good, 15-14, with 2:03 on the clock. Julie Cagle's basket sent the Lady Mustangs to the dressing room in front 17-14.

Nine unanswered points, the last seven by Danielle Bowers, opened the margin to 26-16 with 3:31 remaining in the third stanza. SM led 30-18 entering the fourth quarter after an 18-footer by Jessie Woodard with 32 seconds left.

The Lady Mustangs seemed to have the game in hand with a 36-21 lead on two free throws by Ashley Harn with 5:48 to go in the game.

Five points by Fowler keyed a 12-2 spurt cutting the gap to 39-33 with 1:54 on the clock, but the Lady Bobcats could come no closer.

Pruett hit four field goals and three free throws.

Bowers finished with seven points, Katie Crisp followed with six, Hyatt, Woodard and Harn all scored four, Tori Kelly netted three, Cagle and Stasha Nicholson both had two and Holmes hit a foul shot.

Fowler's points came on four field goals and four free throws.

Shauna Moody added eight points, Brittany Hoxit netted four, Brabanec scored three, and Elyse Long, Amanda Dillard and Jessica Machnik all had two.

Both teams struggled from the foul line. The Lady Mustangs were 11 of 24, and Blue Ridge was nine of 20.

Simmons singled out Pruett for playing a good game.

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