Four players finished in double digits as the Lady Tigers defeated Cullman 60-36 to open area play.

“I am proud of the girls’ effort tonight,” Hartselle coach Amber Deline said. “We struggled a little in the second quarter but responded with a strong second half and pulled away for the win.”

Mary Frances Itsede opened the game with consecutive baskets to give Hartselle a 4-0 need before the Lady Bearcats responded with a 6-0 run to take a 6-4 lead. The Lady Tigers answered with a 12-1 run to close the quarter with a 16-7 lead. Hanna Burks hit two threes in the run for the Lady Tigers.

Hartselle continued their run, extending the lead to a 19-1 run with seven straight points to open the second quarter to make the score 23-7. With the Lady Tigers facing early foul trouble, Cullman responded with an 8-2 run to make the score 25-15 heading into halftime.

The Lady Bearcats (12-10, 0-1) continued to cut into the lead to start the third quarter with a 3-0 run to make the score 25-18 before Anna Hampton Burroughs scored two points to push the lead to 27-18. After a Cullman basket, the Lady Tigers responded with a 10-2 run that included back-to-back three-pointers by Burroughs and Burks. Hartselle headed into the fourth quarter with a 37-22 lead.

After the teams traded buckets to start the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers led 44-30. Hartselle cranked up the offense over the final five minutes, outscoring Cullman with a 16-5 run that included back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from Burks, Gracie Hill and Ella Springer. The last burst by the Lady Tigers made the final score 60-36.

Burks led Hartselle (12-5, 1-0) with 17 points. Hill added 16 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Burrows had 12 points, four rebounds and five assists. Itsede finished with her second double-double of the season, 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also had two assists, three steals and two blocks.

“It was good to get four players scoring in double-digits tonight,” Deline said. “It was good to finally score some points in the second half with 35 points.”

The Lady Tigers will play at Cullman on Jan. 26.