After missing their first six shots from the field, the Bearettes finally got in gear, draining four of their last five of the opening frame. A 3-pointer from Lee University signee Caroline Smith with 12 seconds on the clock gave Bradley its first lead of the night.

Although the Chargerettes regained the advantage for the first half of the second frame, once again the Bearettes won the final four minutes of the period, using a 10-5 run for a 27-24 halftime edge.

Both teams hit nine shots from the two-point area, plus sank 6-of-10 free throws in the first half, so Smith's trey was the only difference.

McMinn Central opened the second half with a 9-1 run to vault back into the lead, but after eight lead changes and a half dozen ties, the Bearettes took the lead for good when Smith hit back-to-back buckets in the final 90 seconds of the third frame.

The hosts turned up the defense in the final eight minutes, holding the state champs to just one basket from the field and a half dozen points in the final eight minutes.

Bradley sealed the 12-point win by hitting 8-of-11 free throws, plus making 3-of-4 shots from inside the arc, down the stretch.

"Our defense is much improved and to hold them to just 18 points in the second half and only six in the final quarter is great," proclaimed Reuter. "Neither team played perfect tonight (a total of 41 fouls were whistled), but we persevered because of our depth."

"We knew they'd (McMinn Central) be tough and physical and we needed to face a game like this after so many 30-point wins," related Reuter. "Caroline (Smith) did a whale of a job, not only offensively, but starting in the second quarter we put her on (Elizabeth) Masengil and she did a great job on her."

Smith finished with a game-high 22 points, including 7-of-9 free throws, while 6-foot-1 sophomore Brooke Copeland helped out with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, plus she blocked three shots.

Masengil, who won MVP honors at last year's state tournament as a sophomore, posted a double-double of her own with 21 points and 10 boards. Elizabeth Trentham added 10 points and seven caroms to the Chargerette tally.

The Bearettes hit 16-of-27 shots (59 percent) from in front of the arc, but made just 1-of-8 from long range. Bradley also sank 19-of-27 free throws and won the battle of the boards by a 28-21 margin.

McMinn Central connected on just 37 percent (15-of-40) from the field, including just one 3-pointer, plus struggled by hitting just 13-of-24 at the charity stripe.

McMinn Central 12 12 12 6 — 42

Bradley Central 13 14 13 14 — 54

Chargerettes (42) — Elizabeth Masengil 21, Elizabeth Trentham 10, P. Williams 5, Myers 4, Casteel 2, Young, Coleman, Cowart, Morrow, S. Williams.

Bearettes (54) — Caroline Smith 22, Brooke Copeland 14, Beavers 8, Reuter 6, Formont 4, Withrow, Hammond, Carroll, McCracken.

3-pointers: McMinn Central 1 (P. Williams); Bradley 1 (Smith).

Free Throws: McMinn Central 13-of-24; Bradley 19-of-27.

Records: McMinn Central 14-5; Bradley 22-1.

Never trailing in the game, Bradley broke open a one-point difference six minutes into the contest with a 9-1 run to finish off the opening period.

Baylor (12-10) fought back to within a basket, netting nine of the first 12 points of the second frame, but once again the Bearettes dominated down the stretch with an 11-0 run to take a 31-20 advantage into the intermission.

After the hosts briefly pulled back within single digits early in the second half, Bradley got back in the groove as Lee University signee Caroline Smith hit for nine straight points on her way to a game-high 19 for the night.

Leading by 16 heading into the final frame, the Bearette reserves finished off the victory with a 6-0 run.

Smith added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals to her well-balanced night, while future Lee teammate Kayla Beavers drained four more 3-pointers for a dozen points, plus she dished off four helps and copped three steals.

Sophomore Brooke Copeland added 11 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots to the victory, while junior Kayla Withrow tallied 10 points, including a pair of long-range bombs. Senior Monica Hammond and sophomore Rebecca Reuter cleared eight caroms apiece.

Bradley Central will return to Jim Smiddy Arena this evening for a match-up of state-ranked teams as the Bearettes (21-1) square off against defending state champ McMinn Central (14-4). Coach Johnny Morgan's squad is also ranked fifth, but in the Class AA poll.

Other than Bradley's one defeat, the Chargerettes had given the Bearettes their toughest game, a 49-43 outcome in the third outing of the season.

"We will need to be on our game against McMinn Central because they won't hold anything back," Reuter assessed.

Bradley Central 17 14 17 15 — 63

Baylor 9 11 12 5 — 37

Bearettes (63) — Caroline Smith 19, Kayla Beavers 12, Brooke Copeland 11, Kayla Withrow 10, Hammond 4, Carroll 4, Reuter 1, McCracken 1, Whitted 1, Formont, Davis.

Lady Raiders (37) — Megan Ausdron 15, Williams 9, Howard 9, Carter 4, Prater, Kauffman, Popp, Nabors, McMahan, Huckabay.

3-pointers: Bradley 8 (Beavers 4, Withrow 2, Smith, Copeland); Baylor 1 (Williams).

Free Throws: Bradley 9-of-14; Baylor 4-of-8.

Records: Bradley Central 21-1; Baylor 12-10.