The 14th nationally ranked (ESPN) Lady Cats basketball team returned home from a successful 4-1 trip to the Sandra Meadows Classic Tuesday night, hosting the LR Southwest Gryphons in their conference opener at Buzz Bolding arena in Conway. 

Conway would be in control from the opening tip as the Lady Cats raced out to a 20-6 lead after the opening quarter. The Lady Cats would never trail in the game as Conway cruised to a 80-33 victory, jumping out to a 1-0 conference record. The Cats would get a much tougher test on Friday night, as the NLR Charging Wildcats came into town for a 1 vs 2 showdown. 

Both teams exchanged leads over the first half as the Lady Cats would lead by 2 points going into the locker room. Coming out of halftime Conway would grow its lead up to 11 in the third quarter before North Little Rock would storm back during the early minutes of the fourth quarter. The Lady Cats were able to make crucial scores down the stretch to hold onto their lead for good, defeating North Little Rock 65-61

Senior top 40 guard Chloe Clardy scored 28 points, including 6 threes, in the win over NLR. Clardy also went 6-8 from the free throw line. Clardy said that Fridays win was a “great team effort. They way they guarded me and Savannah opened up a lot of scoring opportunities.. Senior Auburn commit Savannah Scott added 12 points along with multiple key stops defensively.

The Lady Cats will travel to Bartlett, Tennessee Friday night to take part in the I Have A Dream Showcase.