LASKER – Northeast Academy cruised to victory over Norlina Christian Academy Friday night as the Lady Eagles took a 61-14 win.

After jumping out to a 16-0 lead, Northeast head coach Joella Brown pulled her starting lineup.

Haley Stegall made a bucket to put Norlina on the board, Joanna Boone took a steal to the basket for Northeast, giving the Lady Eagles an 18-2 lead at the end of the first.

Junior Jeanie Hargrave scored the first basket of the second, followed by two shots from Lyndal Brown.

Katie Riley broke Norlina’s scoring drought with a deuce.

Northeast then rattled off nine unanswered points to give the Lady Eagles a 33-4 lead.

Riley and Jessica Beal hit back-to-back threes for the Lady Crusaders, but Danielle Hallman sank two foul shots and Boone converted a steal to extend Northeast’s lead, 37-10, at the end of the first half.

The second half started slowly as almost three minutes ran off the clock before L. Brown’s bucket broke the scoring drought.

Caroline Carrothers hit a three and Hallman hit two consecutive shots from behind the arc to give the Lady Eagles a 48-10 lead.

Crystal Bibee put Norlina on the board with a deuce, but baskets from Boone, Carrothers and a three-pointer by Lori Coggins extended the Lady Eagles lead to 55-12.

Northeast continued to dominate in the fourth, taking the 61-14 victory.

Hargrave led the Lady Eagles with 15 points while Brown added 10.

Hallman scored eight points and had seven steals.

Boone and London Harrell had two steals apiece.

Northeast’s defense held Norlina to 6-of-34 from the floor without drawing a single foul.

&uot;Part of the success of the team this year depends on the intensity of their defense,&uot; J. Brown said of her team, which caused 19 Norlina turnovers.

Northeast will travel to Halifax Tuesday night to face the Lady Vikings.

Lady Eagles (61): Jeanie Hargrave – 15, Lyndal Brown – 10, D. Hallman – 8, L. Coggins – 7, J. Boone – 6, C. Carrothers – 5, R. Harrell – 4, M. Harrell – 2, L. Boone – 2, L. Harrell – 2

Lady Crusaders (14): Katie Riley – 7, J. Beal – 3, H. Stegall – 2, C. Bibee – 2