Lydon's hot shooting rallies Batavia

Where would Batavia have been without Kara Lydon Friday?

Bulldogs coach Tim DeBruycker would probably rather not entertain that thought.

"She kept us in it," he said. "She single-handedly kept our nerves down."

Lydon's hot hand matched Glenbard South's fast start in Glen Ellyn, as the Bulldogs senior scored 19 of her 21 points in the first half of a 59-50 Batavia win.

Lydon knocked down four 3-pointers in the first half, the last one as time expired to tie it at 25. Batavia (6-0, 3-0 Western Sun Conference) gladly accepted that, considering Glenbard South jumped on the Bulldogs to the tune of a 12-1 score midway through the first quarter.

"If I'm wide open, I got to make those shots," Lydon said, "and they were important shots. In the first quarter they came out really strong. I don't think we were ready for them to press us the way they did."

Count Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda among those not surprised by Lydon's marksmanship.

"She lit us up for 23 points a couple years ago," Fonda said. "They just have so many weapons."

Glenbard South (6-3, 2-2) scored the game's first eight points, and two Meghan Pipal free throws made it 12-1 midway through the first quarter. The Raiders, pressuring from the opening tip, forced five Batavia turnovers in the first quarter.

Lydon's long-range shooting gave the Bulldogs a little bouce going into the second half, though, and it carried over. Batavia scored the first eight points of the third quarter to take control of the game. Senior Melissa Norville scored all 11 of her points in the quarter, hitting a pair of 3-pointers. Her three-point play with 2:42 left in the third pushed Batavia's lead to 39-29. It bulged to 43-29 moments later.

"We made our adjustments at halftime, " DeBruycker said, "and the girls' execution the first seven and a half minutes of the third quarter was perfect."

Natalie Tarter scored 17 points for the Bulldogs, 13 in the second half.

Pipal, who keyed Glenbard South's quick start with her hustling play, led the Raiders with 13 points and 5 rebounds. Nevena Markovic and Lauren Podgorski each scored 10 points and Kim Schwerdtmann 9.

"We've been talking about playing with a lot of passion and a lot of enthusiasm. We did that tonight," Fonda said. "There's nothing bad I can say. They were just a better team tonight."