PORTSMOUTH n Churchland and Nansemond River combined to attempt 81 free throws Monday evening in a girls basketball contest and the home-standing Lady Truckers got the better of the battle for a 73-65 victory.

By night’s end, Churchland made 26-for-50 free throws and River made 13-for-31 at the line.

Three Churchland players and two Lady Warriors fouled out, and four more NR players finished the game with four fouls.

After a close first period and with NR coach Calvin Mason already having to test the depth of his bench because of foul trouble, Churchland pulled away in the second period.

An 11-2 Churchland run over the first four minutes of the second made it a 26-13 lead.

Even with that lead, Churchland had made only one more field goal than NR, but free throws were the difference.

A three-pointer from Shannon Walker and a two buckets by Jessica Mayes helped NR chip away at the lead in the last two minutes of the half, but Churchland still led at the half, 37-27.

In the first 3:30 of the third period, each side had added only a lone free throw before Walker banked in a three from deep on the left wing, drawing NR within 38-31.

On NR’s next possession, Mayes scored on a drive and a lay-up, making it 38-33 Churchland with 4:10 left in the period.

Mayes took over, scoring 18 second-half points, making for 26 overall.

The freshman guard also added six steals, five rebounds and five assists.

That five-point margin was as close as the Lady Warriors had been since the first period, but the comeback was short-lived.

Churchland went on a 9-0 run to retake a comfortable lead and the third period ended with Churchland up, 52-39.

NR made one last push in the final period.

Trinese Fox scored and was fouled on a running, right-handed toss in the lane; she made the free throw, making it 54-44 Churchland a minute into the last period.

Walker fouled out with 6:15 remaining, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds.

NR kept coming though and when Charae Rice scored on a short jumper on the right block, NR was back within five, 59-54, with four minutes and counting.

After a couple Churchland free throws, NR looked like they had an empty possession but on Churchland’s break down the floor, Mayes stepped in for a steal and took it in for a nice left-handed finish in traffic.

Mayes’ score made it 61-56 with 3:15 left.

As in the third period, Churchland let NR get no closer.

A 9-1 Churchland run over the next 2:24 put the game away.

During the run, Rice also fouled out.

In addition to Mayes and Walker, Fox was the third Lady Warrior to reach double figures, netting 12 points along with eight rebounds and five assists.

Kelsey Evans was a co-leader on the boards with eight and Jasmine Clark played key minutes in the second half, getting five rebounds and three assists.

NR (1-1) hosts Melbourne, Australia’s Caulfield Grammar on Thursday as part of a triple-header.

The JV boys teams play at 4 p.m., the varsity girls play at 5:30 and the varsity boys are scheduled for 7:30.