NIXA, Mo. — Webb City hung tough in the first half, but Nixa used a strong second half to earn a 65-31 girls basketball victory on Thursday night in Central Ozark Conference action at Nixa High School.
The Eagles, ranked fourth in Class 6 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 16-6 overall and 4-1 in the COC.
Webb City fell to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
The Cardinals trailed by five late in the second quarter, but the hosts used an 18-1 run that spanned the end of the first half and the early part of the third quarter to pull away for good.
Jaydee Duda scored 12 points to lead Webb City, while Malorie Stanley had six. Sierra Kimbrough added five points and Kate Brownfield chipped in four.
Macie Conway and Rhianna Gibbons scored 21 points apiece for the Eagles.
Nixa scored the first eight points of the game, while the visitors struggled with turnovers early in the contest.
The Eagles led 16-4 at the end of the first period.
Webb City pulled within five at 25-20 after Stanley hit a 3-pointer, Ripley Shanks scored on a putback and Duda converted a steal into a layup.
But after a timeout, Gibbons scored five straight points for the Eagles before Stanley made one free throw.
Up 30-21 at the break, Nixa scored the first nine points of the third period to extend their lead to 18.
The Eagles held a comfortable 50-27 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Webb City was limited to two field goals in the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals host Carl Junction at 4:30 on Saturday.
