LASKER – There’s a reason Northeast senior Shannon Jenkins has seen every junk defense known to mankind.

Friday night, Lawrence Academy found out what that reason is – she’s deadly when not harassed all night long.

Jenkins, the senior sharpshooter, poured in 24 points, including 11 in the first quarter to lead the Lady Eagles to a 46-28 win over Lawrence.

&uot;It felt good,&uot; Jenkins said of finally getting an opportunity to get off some shots. &uot;We worked the ball around very well. We played like Northeast is supposed to.&uot;

The senior center credited her team’s performance to being prepared and &uot;pumped up.&uot;

&uot;We were ready to go, ready for Lawrence,&uot; she said.

Jenkins got the scoring started early, hitting her first hoop with 7:17 still to play in the first quarter and leading her team on a 16-0 run to start the game.

The Lady Eagles’ defense was the key, forcing 11 Lawrence turnovers during the period while their offense hit 7 of their first nine shots.

Melissa Jenkins added a hoop 10 seconds later and then Laura Boone drained a field goal and a free throw before S. Jenkins hit back-to-back hoops and added a free throw to push the advantage to 14-0.

Sophomore Lyndal Brown’s steal and outlet pass helped S. Jenkins score again with 2:13 to play in the first quarter to establish a 16-0 advantage.

Jodi White finally got the Lady Warriors on the board with 1:50 to play in the first with a deuce.

The closest Lawrence was able to get in the second quarter was 12 (23-11) when Lauren Rea hit a field goal with 1:10 to play, but each of the Jenkins sisters hit a hoop in the final 39 seconds to give Northeast a 27-11 lead at the half.

&uot;We didn’t quit,&uot; Lawrence skipper Gennia Winslow said. &uot;Despite having Abigail in foul trouble on the bench, we kept playing hard.&uot;

&uot;Those younger players showed themselves well tonight,&uot; LA assistant coach Charles Harden said. &uot;We’re gearing ourselves toward being ready for the TIC tournament.&uot;

Jessica Johnston started the second half with back-to-back hoops for the Lady Warriors, but S. Jenkins hit a pair of free throws and then converted a steal into an easy lay-up to keep Northeast’s lead at 16 (31-15).

The lead remained at or near 16 until late in the quarter when S. Jenkins and Hillary Flythe hit consecutive hoops to help the Lady Eagles grab a 39-20 lead.

White hit a pair of hoops and a free throw to open the fourth quarter and Rea added a hoop to give Lawrence a 6-0 run that cut Northeast’s margin to 39-26.

Brown and S. Jenkins then hit back-to-back hoops to put the game away for the Lady Eagles.

&uot;Our passing game has improved,&uot; NEA veteran basketball boss Joella Brown said. &uot;We still must have better movement and hit the open man a little faster.

&uot;I felt like our intensity suffered after we got the lead, but we’re better than we were,&uot; she added. &uot;We’re still a work in progress.&uot;

(Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Sports Correspondent Heather Lifsey contributed to this story.)

Lady Eagles (46)

Shannon Jenkins – 24, M. Jenkins – 8, H. Flythe – 4, L. Brown – 3, L. Boone – 3, M. Harrell – 2, R. Harrell – 2

FG: 18-of-51 (3-pointers: 0-of-4). FT: 12-of-18. Turnovers: 16

Lady Warriors (28)

Jodi White – 12, J. Johnston – 6, L. Rea – 5, K. Gillam – 2, A. Harden – 2, B. Matthews – 1

FG: 10-of-37 (3-pointers: 1-of-2). FT: 8-of-16. Turnovers: 28