The girls basketball team from Chapel Hill is heading into their last non-conference game on Friday night with a strong sense of momentum.

Laynie Smith scored 28 points to lead the Tigers to a 49-38 victory over Cardinal Gibbons on Wednesday night, ending their three-game losing streak.

Smith was responsible for five out of the first seven points for Chapel Hill, allowing them to take a narrow 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the first half, Kathryn Vanburik of Cardinal Gibbons made four out of five three-point attempts, allowing her team to stay close. The Tigers extended their lead in the second half with six points from Smith and a two-point shot from Scarlett Gilner.

At halftime, Chapel Hill maintained a 25-19 advantage.

Vanburik started off the third quarter by sinking her fifth and last three-pointer of the game. Sarah Maciariello and Molly Chappell also contributed points for the Crusaders during the quarter, but their total was limited to just seven as Chapel Hill maintained a strong defensive stance.

In the third quarter, Smith contributed eight points and Jadzia Burnette made a three-pointer, increasing the lead to ten points at 36-26.

During the fourth quarter, Gilner and Ashton Beale made layups on fast breaks, while Eva Smith scored her second basket of the game for Chapel Hill. This group, along with Laynie Smith, played a crucial role in preventing a comeback from Cardinal Gibbons. In the final quarter, Charlotte Fusco scored seven of her eight points.

The Tigers currently hold a record of 9-4 and will kick off their participation in the Durham Athletic Conference next Friday with a home game against Jordan. Chapel Hill will be on the road this Friday for a non-conference match against Heritage.

After the defeat, Cardinal Gibbons now has a record of 6 wins and 7 losses. Previously, the Crusaders had won two consecutive games before the start of the new year. Their next game against Heritage, which marks the end of non-conference play, will take place on January 15th.

Chapel Hill Scoring:

• L. Smith, 28
• Beale, 6
• Burnette, 5
• Gilner, 4
• E. Smith, 4
• Umenwaliri, 2

Cardinal Gibbons Scoring:

• Vanburik, 15
• Fusco, 8
• Maciariello, 5
• Chappell, 4
• Gladieux, 3
• Lemons, 3

Source: highschoolot.com