The Aberdeen girls basketball team grabbed control of the top spot in the UCBAC's Chesapeake Division Thursday night, pulling away late to beat visiting Joppatowne, 61-47.
The No. 1 Eagles (11-0 overall, 4-0 league) outscored the No. 9 Mariners (10-2, 4-1) 37-23 in the second half as junior center Bri Jones scored 12 of her game-high 23 points.
Neither team led by more than six points through three full quarters, but Aberdeen used five points from Jones to open a 10-point lead (44-34) early in the fourth quarter.
Joppatowne led 14-11 after one quarter, but the game was tied 24-24 at the half.
Mariners point guard TroiQuay Malloy ran into foul trouble early and picked up her fourth foul just 23 seconds into the second half. The Mariners struggled to find consistent offense without her, and Malloy fouled out with 32 seconds left.
"I'm really pleased with the way the girls played, we just got caught up in foul trouble," Joppatowne coach Mike Harris said. "When your quarterback is on the bench for two quarters, it's rough."
Lakiah Huff, who took over much of the ball-handling duties, led Joppatowne with 17 points. Shakara Head struggled to get comfortable in the paint but managed 16 points.
TK Fowlkes scored 14 points for Aberdeen, and Lakeia Hayden finished with 11.
The Eagles, who were 1-of-6 from the free throw line in the first half, went 11-for-15 in the second half, including a perfect 6-for-6 down the stretch.