ELIZABETH CITY – Bertie High School took the rubber match.

The Lady Falcons used a 6-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take the lead and helped them win the season series with Edenton after a 57-51 victory during the semifinal round of the Northeastern Coastal Conference tournament held here.

Yashanti Bridgers poured in 16 points for Bertie while Tierra Brown added 14 and Satora Swain 13 as the Lady Falcons gained a berth in Friday night’s championship game in Ahoskie.

The two teams split their regular season meetings and the third contest between them was tight with the Lady Aces holding a slight 41-40 edge heading into the final period.

Bertie, however, went on a 6-0 run with hoops coming from each of the leading scorers n Bridgers, Brown and Swain n to take a 48-43 lead with 4:45 to play in the game.

The Aces responded with a three-pointer from Tamisha Riddick to close the gap to a single hoop, but Bridgers scored and was fouled. After she converted the three-point play, Swain scored for BHS to give her team a 53-46 advantage with 2:55 to go in the game.

The Lady Aces were again able to get the lead down to a single hoop (53-51) when Tierra Wilder hit a three and Gerrisha Moore a deuce.

Ayanna Wilson hit her only bucket of the night to lift Bertie’s advantage to 55-51 and then Swain sealed the deal with two free throws.

The game started well for the Lady Aces with Moore hitting back-to-back buckets and then, after a Mia Harrell hoop for Bertie, Moore buried a triple to give Edenton a 7-2 lead.

Swain and Bridgers led Bertie back and then Devona Bond scored at the close of the first quarter to get the Lady Falcons within 11-10.

Brown and Bridgers hit consecutive hoops to open the second period as Bertie took their first lead of the night.

Edenton, however, battled back to tie the game at 17-all on a three-pointer from Alexis Duncan midway through the quarter.

The teams exchanged hoops until Riddick scored to give Edenton a 22-20 lead at the intermission.

After a Moore free throw opened the second half, Swain and Bond hit back-to-back hoops to help the Lady Falcons edge ahead 24-23.

After Edenton went back in front (25-24) moments later, there was a barrage of three-pointers with Brown and Bond sandwiching threes around a triple from Riddick. The result was a 30-28 Bertie lead.

The Aces rallied back to take the lead when Moore and Wilder scored back-to-back later in the quarter, giving Edenton a 36-32 advantage.

Bertie worked to get the lead down to a single point at the end of the quarter thanks to consecutive hoops from Brown.

The Lady Falcons (17-6) garnered their fourth championship appearance in the past five seasons with the win.

Lady Falcons (57): Yashanti Bridgers n 16, Tierra Brown n 14, Satora Swain n 13, Devona Bond n 9, Mia Harrell n 3, Ayanna Wilson n 2

Lady Aces (51): Gerrisha Moore n 17, Tamisha Riddick n 13, Tierra Wilder n 10, Alexis Duncan n 5, Dominique Leary n 4, Tiffany Welch – 2