Glenbard E. holds off Naperville C.

Holding a double-digit lead halfway through the fourth quarter in its game against Naperville Central on Tuesday night, the Glenbard East girls basketball team looked as if it would roll to an easy victory to improve to 6-0 on the season.

The Redhawks had other ideas, though, giving Glenbard East a scare down the stretch before the Rams eventually held on for a 60-57 victory in Lombard.

A pair of Alex Pokorny free throws with 21 seconds remaining brought the Redhawks to within 4 points. Junior guard Erin Antony followed a Glenbard East turnover with a 3-pointer that cut the Rams' lead to 58-57, but that would be as close as Naperville Central would get.

Kelsey Taylor's free throws with seven seconds on the clock iced the Rams' sixth straight victory to start the season.

"They just made a great run on us," Glenbard East coach Nicole Miller said. "They caught us on our heels, they picked our passes off, and they made it a game. Hats off to them."

The Rams (6-0, 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference) could have been looking at their first defeat of the season if not for a blistering first half. The home team jumped out to a 22-11 lead after one quarter and shot 62 percent from the field during the opening half.

"We have a good shooting team, and we were just firing from all cylinders in that first quarter," Miller said.

Despite trying a number of defensive strategies, Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum had no answer for the Rams' collective hot hand.

"We gave up too much defensively early," Nussbaum said. "It's been a long time since a team shot like they did in the first quarter, and we dug a hole that we weren't ever able to get out of.

"We gave them too much space, I think, and they drilled their shots when we gave them the opportunity."

Naperville Central's fourth-quarter comeback showed a true team effort, as seven Redhawks (3-3, 0-1) scored to nearly push their team over the top.

"I was pleased with our comeback in the end," Nussbaum said. "We were one free throw short essentially."

Miller expects Tuesday's close call to strengthen her team's mettle.

"I think it strengthens us, because we did (get the win)," she said. "We had to remain composed enough to not give that away and do the things that we needed to do."

Jamie Klepetka paced the Rams with 17 points, while Redhawks senior guard Kelley Hendrick led all scorers with 18.