LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood girls basketball team improved to 2-4 defeating Cedarcrest 51-40 Dec. 19.

It was a tightly contested game in the first half, but the Cougars stayed consistent in rhythm but adjusted their offense and defense to control the remaining half.

“We needed to be the same team in both halves,” coach Chris Walster said.

Lakewood found itself down a point in the first quarter having to rally from an early run from Cedarcrest.

“We stepped up our game,” junior Emily Senyitko said. “If we can beat these guys, that would be a shocker.”

With Lakewood ahead by just one point after halftime, Walster sought to change Lakewood’s game plan from outside shooting to inside work.

The Cougars also utilized zone defense to disrupt Cedarcrest’s perimeter shooting, Walster said, and the girls were able to steals.

“We hustled more in the second half,” Senyitko said. “As we worked harder on defense, we would get more steals and our offense will come easier.”

It helped that Senyitko scored 14 points in the game, but it also helped when they were able to bring 5-foot-9 junior Marissa Blair to the free throw line in the second half, thanks to Senyitko’s passing and ball handling, Walster said.

“Blair is hard to stop when she gets going,” Walster said.

From there, Blair was able to score nine of 11 total points. Blair also led the team in rebounds securing 13.

“We were looking more inside to draw fouls from the outside,” Senyitko said. “We are more of an outside shooting team usually.”

The Cougars were able to outscore Cedarcrest 13-7 and 14-7 in the third and fourth quarters.

“Once we score we get excited and start to score more,” Senyitko said.

Though only 5-foot-4, Senyitko was accurate behind the paint, sinking three 3-point goals.

“In practice I just do my routine over and over again, and have the same rhythm in every shot,” she said.

Cedarcrest: 11 15 7 7 — 40

Lakewood: 10 17 13 14 — 51