Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven women's basketball team continued their strong play with a flawless second half effort to defeat the visiting Spring Hill Badgers 75-58 in Southern States Athletic Conference action Thursday night. Ashley Wakefield scored 22 of her career-high 26 points in the second half to pace the Blazers.

Things started slowly for Belhaven (7-9, 4-3 SSAC), as Spring Hill (6-10, 3-4 SSAC) raced out to an early 7-0 lead thanks in part to the sharp shooting of Natalie Harper. However, the Blazers answered with an eight point run of their own to take their first lead of the game. The game would then have a see-saw effect until halfway through the second half.

Spring Hill and Belhaven traded the lead four times each in the first half until the Badgers went on a 10-2 run to open a four point lead at the break. The Blazers trailed by as many as eight points in the half, but were always able to find an answer to the Spring Hill attack.

What actually transpired in the Belhaven locker room during the break is not known, but it kick started the Blazers to one of their most impressive halves of basketball on the season.

Wakefield, a senior swing forward, had a look of determination in her eye after a frustrating first half. Every time she touched the ball the Blazers scored a bucket, either by her own hands or on a pass distributed by her.

On two straight possessions, with the Blazers down by six, Wakefield physically carried the team on her back by drawing two and-one fouls and converting on both foul shots.

The Badgers and Blazers traded buckets back and forth for the next few minutes in a game that looked as if it would be deadlocked for the remainder. The trio of Wakefield, Alisha Rayborn and Erika Leflore had a much different idea.

Wakefield continued to fight for points and the Badgers left her open inside the three-point arch too many times in the second half. The guard made them pay on a variety of possession to give the Blazers their first lead of the second half with about ten minutes to play.

Leflore played another high motor game with 18 points from her post down low. However, the junior forward's biggest contribution was on the glass, specifically the offensive glass.  She finished the night with 14 rebounds, seven on both ends of the floor, and was a huge catalyst for the second half surge because of the second chance point opportunities that she created.

Rayborn had the lowest point total of the three players, finishing with 16 on the evening, but had the most complete performance of any player. The quick point guard was only a few stats away from a triple-double, as she tacked on seven rebounds and eight assists to go with her double-digit scoring performance.

The Blazers outscored Spring Hill 50-29 in the second half to complete the convincing victory.

Rayborn followed Wakefield and Leflore with 16 points to round out the double digit scorers for Belhaven. The Blazers ended the contest shooting 26 of 57 from the field (45.6%) and out-rebounded Spring Hill 41-39.

The Badgers were paced by Natalie Harper with 14 points. Kristin Rogers had a team high six rebounds. Spring Hill had a tough time solving Belhaven's defense which has been tough on opponents all season. The Badgers managed to only hit 21 of their 64 attempts from the field (32.8%).

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday when the No. 3 team in the country, Freed-Hardeman University (14-1) comes into town for a rematch of an early-season game. The Lions got the best of the Blazers in the first matchup 85-48 on November 3rd. Saturday's tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM.