The Cumberland Gap Lady Panthers used a fast start and a strong finish to pull away late for a 62-46 win over Thomas Walker Monday night.

Kelsey Dean scored 17 points, while Courtney Crowder and Chelsea Graves put up 14 each to lead the Lady Panthers. Thomas Walker was led by Jennifer Burke’s 15 and Tiffany Gibson with nine.

Crowder scored six early points as the Lady Panthers raced to a 13-0 lead in the game’s first five minutes, but Thomas Walker closed the quarter with an 8-0 run of their own led by four points from Gibson.

“That seems like how it goes with us. We get started fast, but can’t keep the momentum up,” Cumberland Gap coach Tracy Brooks said. “When we went to our bench we just couldn’t carry that momentum from our first five to our second five.”

The comeback continued in the second period. A 3-pointer from Courtney Moles and a put-back by Burke put the Lady Pioneers on top 16-15 with 5:35 to play in the second period.

But Crowder answered with a pair of baskets inside and Graves scored five points as Cumberland Gap used a 13-4 run to go up 29-19 with 30 seconds left in the half.

A long two-pointer from Katrina Isaacs brought Thomas Walker to within eight at halftime.

Burke scored seven points for the Lady Pioneers in the third quarter as they closed to within 39-34 with 1:24 to play in the period.

Brooks called a time out to get her girls focused.

“We talked about getting more pressure on their guards,” she said. “Their post players were the ones hurting us, but if you can put pressure on the passers it makes it harder for them to get it into the post.”

The Lady Panthers turned up the heat with their full-court press and started forcing turnovers.

Dean had seven points for CGHS in the period and her free throws pushed the lead back to 43-34 with 12.7 seconds left in the third.

Transition baskets by Jonna Adkins and Dean early in the fourth gave Cumberland Gap a 47-34 lead with 6:55 left in the game.

Thomas Walker got 3-pointers from Burke and Caitlin Hurst to stay close. But the Lady Panthers press forced several turnovers and they pulled away for the 16-point win.

“The press is what sealed it for us in the end,” Brooks said. “We also shot better from the free throw line, especially when we needed to.”

Dean and Graves combined to hit 17-of-24 free throws in the game for Cumberland Gap.

The Lady Panthers (6-4) visit Scott County this evening in the first game of a double-header with the boys team playing the late game.

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In Monday’s junior varsity game Courtney Walker, Christine Gibbons and Kayla Lewis scored ten points each to lead the Lady Panthers to a 49-35 win. Meghan Treece added six points and Brittney Mize five for Cumberland Gap.

Thomas Walker was led by Ashley Hensley and Kayla Sadler with eight points apiece, while Faith Welch and Katie Nelson scored five each.

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Thomas Walker 8 13 13 12 — 46

Cumberland Gap 13 16 14 19 — 62

THOMAS WALKER (46): Jennifer Burke 15, Tiffany Gibson 9, Katrina Isaacs 6, Courtney Moles 5, Caitlin Hurst 3, Jessica Burke 2, Lauren Warf 2, Gabby Brooks 2, Jennifer Brockman 2, Brandy Vass 0.

CUMBERLAND GAP (62): Kelsey Dean 17, Chelsea Graves 14, Courtney Crowder 14, Mackenzie McFall 6, Jonna Adkins 5, Courtney Williams 4, Emily Ellison 2, Brittany Bishop 0, Ashley Thomas 0, Kayla Lewis 0.

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Junior Varsity

Thomas Walker 4 7 8 16 — 35

Cumberland Gap 13 10 11 15 — 49

THOMAS WALKER (35): Ashley Hensley 8, Kayla Sadler 8, Katie Nelson 5, Faith Welch 5, Morgan Wheeler 4, Candace Moles 3, Lindsey Bailey 2, Jessica Mont 0, Andrea Eller 0.

CUMBERLAND GAP (49): Courtney Walker 10, Christine Gibbons 10, Kayla Lewis 10, Meghan Treece 6, Brittney Mize 5, Lindsay Warren 2, Scarlett Sweet 2, Chelsea Hurst 2, Meggan Dunn 2, Emily Ely 0, Kayla Cosby 0, Kayla O’Connor 0, Olivia Hoskins 0, Amber Jackson 0.