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ST. CATHARINE, Ky. – The 19th-ranked Lindsey Wilson women's basketball team coasted to a 74-53 victory over Mid-South Conference foe St. Catharine (Ky.) Saturday afternoon at Lourdes Hall.

Billie Hearn scored a career-high 13 points and Michelle Montgomery added her team-leading third double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Blue Raiders (19-6, 7-4 MSC) bolted out to an 8-0 lead in the opening minute and 20 seconds capped off by a three-point basket from Bre Elder, which forced a St. Catharine timeout.

Lindsey Wilson's half-court press forced some early turnovers as the team continued to score building a 15-4 lead with 13:32 left in the first half. After a basket by Montgomery, the Patriots managed to cut into the lead scoring six-straight points and trail 17-10 with 11:09 remaining in the first half.

The Blue Raiders however did not panic, going on a 12-2 run. As the shot clock was winding down, Kayla Richardson connected on her second three-pointer of the game giving the team a 29-12 lead with 6:05 remaining in the first half.

St. Catharine (9-15, 1-8 MSC) then scored five-straight points cutting the deficit to 12 at 29-17, but Courtney Sandlin hit an elbow jumper to extend the Blue Raider lead at 31-17 with 2:29 left in the opening period. After a basket by Elder, the Patriots' Heather Sandlin hit a three-point basket as the Blue Raiders took a 33-20 halftime lead.

Lindsey Wilson shot 53.8 percent in the first half, while St. Catharine totaled just a 30.8 percentage. The Blue Raiders out-rebounded the Patriots 19-13. Elder led the team with eight first half points ahead of Richardson's seven.

In the second half, both teams traded baskets as the Patriots tried to claw back into the game. Chanel Roberts and Sandlin each tallied baskets, but the Patriots scored five straight points as Lindsey Wilson led 38-29 with 15:44 left.

With 13:13 remaining Montgomery made a basket, followed by a three-point basket by St. Catharine. Montgomery and Roberts then scored five-straight points as Lindsey Wilson took a 47-34 lead with 11:44 remaining.

The Blue Raiders held a 55-43 lead with 6:21 left before the Patriots' Sasha Ruiz-Lopez made a basket. St. Catharine then forced a Roberts turnover and dribbled down the court converting its sixth three-point basket of the game to make it 55-48 with 5:54 to go.

With the lead cut all the way down to seven points and the Patriots building momentum, Lindsey Wilson calmly responded with a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to make it 68-48 with 1:47 remaining.

The remainder of the game saw the teams trade baskets as Lindsey Wilson cruised to the 21-point 74-53 victory.

Lindsey Wilson finished with a 44.3 percentage from the floor, while the Patriots recorded a 37.7 field goal percentage. St. Catharine came in leading the conference with a 37.8 three-point field goal percentage and tallied a 43.8 percentage from beyond the arc. Lindsey Wilson shot just 28.6 percent from three-point range. The Blue Raiders dominated on the glass grabbing 50 total rebounds compared to just 24 by St. Catharine.

Sandlin led the Patriots with 14 points and six assists.

Lindsey Wilson next returns to Biggers Sports Center for a 6 p.m. CT matchup with Georgetown (Ky.) on Feb. 12.