WINDSOR – Equalia Vines poured in 22 points and Yashanti Bridgers added 17 to power Bertie to round two.

The Lady Falcons used the offensive output by those two to edge Northeastern 72-68 in the first round of the Northeastern Coastal Conference tournament here Tuesday.

Bertie appeared to be cruising to the victory midway through the fourth quarter, leading 61-53, but Northeastern staged a furious rally.

Sharika Lee hit a deuce and back-to-back three-pointers to tie the score at 61-all with just over three minutes to play. Gina Jordan hit back-to-back field goals and a free throw to complete the run, giving the Lady Eagles a 66-61 lead with 2:32 to play.

The Lady Falcons refused to surrender, however, getting a pair of free throws from Vines before Tierra Brown and Vines buried consecutive scores to allow Bertie to surge ahead 67-66.

Northeastern, however, got a Lee hoop with 1:10 to play to edge back into the lead.

Ticorian Dolberry buried a three-pointer for Bertie with 29 seconds to play that gave them a lead and Brown hit a deuce seconds later to seal the 72-68 win.

Bertie led the game in the early going as well, getting out to a 9-8 advantage and then rolling off nine unanswered points to help them grab a 20-13 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Lady Falcons then scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a substantial 27-13 lead with six minutes to go in the half. Vines had two of the baskets while Bridgers added the other.

BHS held a 40-28 lead at the intermission, thanks in part to a late-half triple from Dolberry.

Bertie pushed out to a 49-34 lead midway through the third quarter only to have the Lady Eagles score nine straight points and get back within 49-43.

The Lady Falcons (11-10) led 53-45 after three quarters.

Brown and Laquetta Leary scored eight points each for Bertie.

Lee had 24 for the Lady Eagles while Jordan added 20 points.

Bertie traveled to Elizabeth City Wednesday night for a semifinal matchup with First Flight in a game that finished too late for press time.

Lady Falcons (72): Equalia Vines n 22, Yashanti Bridgers n 17, T. Brown n 8, L. Leary n 8, T. Dolberry n 6, D. Bond n 5, S. Foster n 3, M. Harrell n 3

Lady Eagles (68): Sharika Lee n 24, Gina Jordan n 20, Priscilla Lindsey n 11, T. Perry n 6, C. Koch n 4, N. Thomas – 3