JACKSON, Miss. - Savannah Hailey poured in a career-high 30 points and Belhaven Women's Basketball closed the game with poise down the stretch to secure a 75-70 win Tuesday afternoon at Rugg Arena. The Blazers improved to 10-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play with the comeback victory.  

Belhaven scored 39 points off turnovers, held a 54-34 advantage in points in the paint, and added 29 fast-break points in a game that featured seven ties and five lead changes.

Belhaven struck first behind interior scoring from Kiersten Hudson and Hailey, but the opening quarter quickly turned into a high-scoring, back-and-forth battle. Hailey scored on multiple finishes in the paint and added a free throw to give the Blazers an early edge. Midway through the quarter, turnovers led to transition baskets that briefly pushed Belhaven in front.

The visitors responded late with a scoring run, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and converting in transition. Despite strong early activity from Hailey and Ny Jones, Belhaven trailed 25-20 at the end of the first.

The Blazers opened the second quarter with defensive energy, forcing turnovers that led to fast-break layups by Kamren Edwards and Kyla Farmer. Hailey continued to attack the rim, trimming the deficit to four after a pair of baskets in the paint.

Momentum stalled midway through the quarter as missed shots allowed the visitors to rebuild the lead. Belhaven closed the half with a key run, sparked by a steal from Jones and a layup from Hailey in the final minute. The Blazers went into halftime down 36-30 but had cut what had been a double-digit margin to six.

Belhaven came out of the locker room aggressive. Hailey opened the half with a jumper and later scored in transition to help pull the Blazers within three. After trading baskets, Belhaven used defensive pressure to force multiple turnovers, converting them into fast-break points by Hudson and Veronica Williams.

A 10-2 run midway through the quarter erased the deficit and tied the game at 46-46. Hailey continued to control the paint, scoring through contact and finishing second-chance opportunities. The teams traded leads in the final minutes of the quarter, and Belhaven entered the fourth trailing just 52-51 after outscoring the visitors 21-16 in the period.

The final quarter featured constant swings. Hailey opened the scoring with a putback before Hudson drilled a transition three to give Belhaven its first lead of the half. The Blazers followed with another fast-break basket from Hudson to stretch the margin to three.

After the visitors answered with a run of their own, Hailey took over. She scored on consecutive drives to the rim, then added free throws to push Belhaven back in front. The lead changed hands twice in the final three minutes before Jasi Jenkins converted a layup through contact to give the Blazers a one-point edge with under a minute remaining.

Belhaven sealed the game at the free-throw line. Hailey knocked down two clutch free throws in the final minute before Jones added an ankle-breaking floater to cap a decisive 6-0 closing run.

Hailey finished with a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Blazers for her sixth double-double of the season. Jenkins chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench while Hudson added 11 points.

The Blazers look to keep their hot streak going as they host Asbury this Saturday in a battle of two undefeated teams in the Collegiate Conference of the South. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.

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