The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy girls’ basketball team topped visiting Trinity Episcopal School on Tuesday by the score of 40-26, despite not playing its best game.

Lady Saints coach Kim Aston said she felt like her team was a little sloppy with the ball, but it played great defense and rebounded well.

“We played well enough to win, and (the Lady Titans) are better than they were last year,” she said. “We need to improve on taking care of the basketball. We had 19 turnovers.”

Junior center Caroline Hogg led her team with 19 points and six blocks to go with seven rebounds.

Junior point guard Harper Birdsong contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and senior forward Chloe Tillman chipped in six points.

Aston said senior guard Sarah Higinbotham played great defensively, and sophomore forward Kelly Hogan was a force on the boards. Higinbotham had three steals, and Hogan had seven rebounds, including a team-high four offensive boards.

“We’re getting a lot of rebounds, we’re just not capitalizing on them,” Aston said, noting an area of needed improvement for the Lady Saints.

Nansemond-Suffolk (3-0) visits Williamsburg Christian Academy on Thursday.