By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com

The No. 4 Chipola Lady Indians made it nine wins in a row to start the season Friday in Niceville, using an explosive first-half performance to cruise to a 78-60 win over the Santa Fe Saints.

Sueterrica Key had 18 points to lead a balanced Lady Indians effort, with Evelyn Akhator adding 13 points, Rahni Bell 10, and Khadijah Ellison and Tiffany Lewis nine each.

Akhator also contributed 15 rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots for Chipola, with Brianna Wright posting seven points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

The Lady Indians jumped on the Saints early and took a 49-27 lead into the halftime break, but it was the effort in the final 20 minutes that drew the ire of Chipola coach Greg Franklin.

"We played a really good first half and a really bad second half," he said. "I was very pleased with the first half. Our effort and intensity were really good and we bothered them a lot with our defensive pressure. But the second half was just a poor effort. I don't care if shots went in; it was a poor effort and that's not what we're about.

"If we're going to be a mature team that wins championships, you can't have a letdown in your intensity and effort. You're going to miss shots and turn it over some and make some boneheaded plays, but you can always play with a sense of urgency."

Chipola was aided by some hot-shooting from the perimeter, making 11-of-23 shots from long distance.

The Lady Indians shot just 31 percent from inside the arc and missed 11-of-30 free throws, but it was still good enough to stay out of the loss column.

Chipola was scheduled to take on Miami-Dade on Saturday before heading to Ocala this weekend for games against Florida State College at Jacksonville and St. Petersburg.