CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Ignited by an aggressive pressure defense, Springdale (Arkansas) led from start to finish in a 52-35 win over Nevada on Monday night in the opening game of the 47th annual Freeman Sports Medicine Carl Junction Classic.
Springdale’s full-court pressure defense forced Nevada into several turnovers early in the game. The Bulldogs (3-0) scored the first nine points of the game and led 13-4 by the end of the fast-paced first quarter.
A pair of 3-pointers gave Springdale a 19-6 lead early in the second period, but Nevada used a 9-0 run to pull within four. Senior guard Clara Swearingen scored five of the nine points during the surge.
After going several minutes without a point, the Bulldogs closed the first half on an 8-3 spurt for a 27-18 halftime advantage. Nevada’s lone hoop late in the second quarter came on a trey from Peyton Eaton.
Springdale’s Kaiya McCoy converted a pair of Nevada turnovers into layups, capping a 10-3 run and giving her team a 37-21 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter.
Despite a pair of 3-pointers from freshman Lucy Swearingen, Nevada trailed 38-24 entering the fourth quarter.
Springdale’s lead was never in jeopardy in the final frame.
McCoy scored 16 points to lead Springdale’s balanced attack, while Charleen Hudson and Jakayla Bunch added 12 points apiece.
Clara Swearingen led Nevada with 15 points, while Lucy Swearingen added eight and Eaton had five.
Nevada (1-1) will meet McDonald County at 5 p.m. on Tuesday night in the final game of pool play. Springdale will take on McDonald County on Wednesday night in pool play.
CARL JUNCTION CLASSIC
Pool A: Springdale, McDonald County, Nevada
Pool B: Parkview, Carl Junction, Neosho
Monday’s scores
Springdale 52, Nevada 35
Carl Junction 40, Neosho 34
Tuesday’s schedule
5—Nevada vs. McDonald County
6:30—Carl Junction vs. Parkview
Wednesday’s schedule
5—Springdale vs. McDonald County
6:30—Parkview vs. Neosho
Thursday’s schedule
4:30—Fifth place game
6—Third place game
7:30—Championship game
