After seeing a seven-point third-quarter lead turn into a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit, the Scotland High School girls' basketball team turned up the defensive pressure and stormed from behind for a 70-57 win over Douglas Byrd on Friday night in Laurinburg.

The Lady Scots are now 7-2 overall and on a three-game winning streak. Friday's win gives the Scot a 2-1 record in the Mid-Southeastern 4-A Conference.

Scotland led 23-19 at the half, but the Eagles hit four 3-pointers and outscored SHS 22-16 in the third quarter to take a 41-39 lead. Byrd guard Shavon Cribb hit three shots from behind the arc in the third quarter; Shemilla Suleman also had a 3, and her transition layup with 10 seconds left in the third gave the Eagles their first lead of the second half.

Cribb stroked her fourth 3 of the half nine seconds into the fourth period. She hit a long jumper with her foot on the 3-point line with 7:06 remaining to put the Eagles up 46-39.

Another bucket by Jamesha Brown gave Byrd a 48-29 advantage with 6:47 remaining. Scotland would score all 31 of its fourth-quarter points after that, holding the Eagles to just nine points over the remainder of the game.

The key? Scotland head coach David Johnson made a defensive adjustment, switching from his 11-down trap to a more widespread 55 defense.

"We went into a different half-court trap," Johnson said. "We trap in the corners with the 11-down, and, in the 55 defense, we still trap in the corners, but we really try to get more pressure up top."

Senior guard Megan Brigman scored 13 of her game-high 23 points in the final 5:13 for the Lady Scots. She hit a difficult shot over two defenders on the baseline to cut the lead to 51-47 with 4:50 to play. Brigman had back-to-back steals and layups to tie the game at 54-all.

Brigman pushed the ball up the court and fed Shayla McEachern for a layup to give Scotland a 56-54 lead with 3:23 to play. Alexis McNeil tipped a pass near halfcourt, McEachern made the steal and fed Brigman, who hit a layup and was fouled. Brigman's free throw to complete the 3-point play put the Scots ahead 59-54 with 2:45 remaining.

The Douglas Byrd Eagles were lost at that point. A 13-point win is not usually considered blowing an opponent out of the building, but the Scots certainly blew the Eagles away in the final quarter.

McEachern had 10 of her 11 points in the second half. Brittany Dockery had a dozen points and Bridgette Dockery finished with 11 points. Jessi Newton scored six for SHS.

Cribb scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half for the Eagles.

Scotland plays in the Pinecrest Christmas Tournament on Monday night at 6 p.m. The Lady Scots' first-round opponent will be Union Pines.