MERRY HILL – Balanced scoring was the key to success here Monday night.

The Lady Warriors of Lawrence Academy advanced to the semifinal round of the Lt. Nick Brantley Scholarship Tournament Monday with a 47-22 win over Bethel Christian Academy.

And the Warriors did so because three players – Debbie Stotesbury, Casey Belch and Taylor Sexton – scored eight points each and a fourth – Ashtyn Mizelle – contributed seven. Add to that, LeAnne Eubanks and Kendra Spruill scoring six each and Head Coach Jack Williford had plenty to smile about.

On the other side, Bethel had no player score more than five points (Megan Simons) as they dropped their second game to Lawrence this season.

“We didn’t show up to play until the second quarter,” quipped Williford after the game. “Once we got here, they did a good job of getting on track.”

Lawrence trailed 6-2 late in the first quarter as Landis Marsh had back-to-back hoops for Bethel and Elizabeth Farmer added a score. Jennifer White and Mizelle each scored in the closing minutes of the first quarter to put the game into a six-all deadlock.

The second quarter was all Lawrence – literally – as the Warriors scored all 14 points in the period to grab a 20-6 halftime lead.

Sexton started the spurt with consecutive hoops before Eubanks hit a pair of free throws. Belch and Mizelle then hit back-to-back buckets for Lawrence before Sexton scored from the floor and the free throw line. Spruill closed out the half by making 1-of-2 from the line to establish the 20-6 lead.

Stotesbury opened the third quarter with two straight field goals that pushed the Lawrence lead to 24-6.

Simons finally broke the scoring drought for Bethel, but was answered by a hoop from Danielle Davis that made it 26-8.

The Warriors pushed the lead to 34-9 late in the period thanks to Spruill scoring four times from the free throw line.

Bethel, however, got consecutive scores from Kristen Adams and Farmer to close within 34-13 by the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Warriors then cruised to victory.

Lawrence advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal action where they were scheduled to meet Pungo Christian Academy at 4 p.m. last night (Wednesday). Bethel will meet Ahoskie Christian at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the fifth place contest.