The Lady Astros of Douglass improved to 9-5 on the season and 6-2 in region 5-3A after a 44-37 win against Cedar Grove at home Tuesday.
Since starting back play due to COVID-19 game cancellations on February 2, the Lady Astros have won four straight games and are fighting for a top-three region seed with only two games left in the regular season.
Their success has come in large part to senior guard and Jacksonville State signee Ashuntee Weems who finished with 18 points.
Weems wasted no time going to work as she scored nine of the Astros 13 points as they led 13-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Saints fought their way back into the game narrowing the Astros lead down to four points. Rickayla Johnson and Lelah Easterly each added five points in the second quarter giving the Saints much-needed production on offense. Senior guard Kaniah Stephens hit a buzzer-beating jumper to end the second quarter. The Astros still lead 22-18 at halftime.
The third quarter featured both teams trading baskets but the Astros never gave up the lead. The Saints still remained in striking distance for their first lead of the game only trailing 30-28 at the end of the third quarter.
Weems who had a great game ended up picking up her fourth foul midway in the fourth quarter which resulted in her being benched. Astros point guard D’yanna Maxey stepped up for the Astros in Weems absence, scoring six points in the quarter and leading an 8-0 run to increase the Astros lead to 10.
This proved to be the difference in the game as it was too little, too late for the Saints as the Astros picked up their ninth win of the season.
Maxey finished with 14 points in the game.
Wednesday, Douglass beat Carver 54-29. Friday, the Lady Astros will host Greater Atlanta Christian on Senior Night.
The season finale will conclude Saturday at home against Redan.
