Lady Hornets' losing streak hits four after 56-38 setback to Helias

The Fulton Lady Hornets have been knocked around pretty good lately, but head coach TJ Quick is optimistic her squad's fortunes are going to improve.

Fulton shot only 34 percent and committed 15 turnovers Friday night in suffering its fourth straight loss, a 56-38 non-conference setback to the Helias Lady Crusaders.

The Lady Hornets - who haven't won since a 62-56 victory over host California on Jan. 12 in first-round play at the California Tournament - tumbled to 8-6 on the season.

"It's been a good two weeks because we've been pushed and pressed, we've been beaten up and banged up," Quick said. "We've been tested and pushed to the max.

"Hopefully we'll come back and be better for it."

Fulton was constantly trying to make up ground Friday night, falling behind 15-4 in the first quarter. Junior guard Sloane Totta accounted for the final four points of the period to cut the Lady Hornets' deficit to seven points, but Helias started the second quarter with a 9-4 run to build a double-digit lead at 24-12.

Consecutive baskets from junior guard Rachel Guse allowed Fulton to pull within eight points. However, the Lady Crusaders took a 26-16 advantage into halftime. The Lady Hornets closed the gap again in the third quarter when Totta's basket made it 30-24. Helias, though, answered by ending the period on a 10-0 run to stretch its lead to 16 points.

The closest Fulton was able to get in the fourth quarter came when Totta hit a pair of free throws to make it 46-36, but the Lady Crusaders pulled away by finishing the game on a 10-2 run.

Totta - who was 5-of-10 from the field - ended up with 18 points as the only player to make it into double figures for the Lady Hornets. Junior forward NaShayla Brandt contributed nine points as Fulton made just 14-of-41 shots overall.

"I thought we moved the ball well, we just couldn't make anything; that probably had a little something to do with (Helias') size," Quick said. "We've just got to shoot better, plain and simple."

Quick added that mistakes continue to compound the Lady Hornets' offensive hardships.

"It's simple - we're not taking care of the ball," Quick said. "Rushed decisions and bad passes are killing us."

Brandt grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, but the Lady Crusaders controlled the boards with a decisive 38-18 edge.

"We couldn't buy a rebound," Quick said. "We have to do a better job of blocking out."

Luci Francka - who connected on 11-of-18 shots - broke out for a game-high 25 points to direct Helias (10-5), which shot 46 percent (24-of-52) from the field and finished with 14 turnovers. Mai Nienhueser also tallied 10 points.

The Lady Hornets (0-8) bowed in the junior varsity contest 52-12. Sophomore guard Kenzie Archer scored a team-high seven points.

Fulton returns home for a North Central Missouri Conference matchup against Hannibal at 6 p.m. Monday at Roger D. Davis Gymnasium.