Conway played without injured star guard Kianna Speight on Friday against Siloam Springs, but the defending 7A state champion Lady Wampus Cats did just fine without her.
Four Lady Wampus Cats scored in double figures and Conway handed Siloam Springs its fourth straight 7A/6A-Central Conference loss 70-37 at Panther Activity Center.
Alexis Tolefree led Conway (14-5, 4-1) with 14 points, while Christin Rogers scored 13, Savannah Lowe 12 and Arkansas-signee Jordan Danberry added 11 points.
Speight, who had a torn ACL and missed all of last season, tweaked the same knee and will miss about a week, said Conway coach Ashley Nance.
"We've had others step up," Nance said. "We have everybody back from last year and most of the kids have experience. We haven't had all of them together once this season."
Siloam Springs (11-7, 1-4) started out strong and led 13-11 midway through the first quarter. After Conway took a 9-4 lead on a 3-pointer by Tolefree, the Lady Panthers went on a 9-2 run.
Mayse Pippin scored inside and hit two free throws on the Lady Panthers' next possession to pull with 9-8.
Conway's Christin Rogers scored to put the Lady Wampus Cats up 11-8, but Bailee Owens scored on a putback to make it 11-10, and Owens hit a 3-pointer in the corner for a 13-11 Lady Panthers lead.
Tolefree knocked down a trey on the other end as Conway, starting a 15-2 run as the Lady Wampus Cats retook the lead and wouldn't relinquish it.
Trailing 18-13 after the first quarter, Siloam Springs pulled within 18-15 on a basket inside by Mirna Torres. It was as close at the Lady Panthers would get of the lead the rest of the way.
Conway finished the half on an 11-3 run to lead 37-20 at halftime. The Lady Wampus Cats extended that margin to 55-30 going into the fourth quarter.
The game finished with a running clock as Conway pulled ahead by more than 30 points in the fourth quarter.
It's the second time in four games that the Lady Panthers have been mercy-ruled.
Siloam Springs turned the ball over 20 times and had trouble scoring at times against Conway's pressure defense.
Siloam Springs head coach Tim Rippy said it's difficult to prepare for Conway's speed and athleticism as well as seeing it live in a game.
"We drilled it and drilled it, but you can't simulate it," Rippy said. "It's one thing to do it in practice. It's another to do it in a game. Conway is very fast and very talented."
Pippin led Siloam Springs with 11 points, while Bailee Owens scored nine and Baily Cameron eight.
The Lady Panthers host Alma on Tuesday in an important 6A ballgame for both teams. The Lady Panthers and Airedalettes (10-8, 1-4) are 0-2 against 6A competition within the 7A/6A-Central Conference and Tuesday's winner will hold the upper hand going into the second tour through the league.
Conway 70, Siloam Springs 37
Conway 18 19 18 15 -- 70
Siloam Springs 13 7 10 7 -- 37
Conway (14-5, 4-1): Tolefree 14, Rogers 13, Lowe 12, Danberry 11, Willard 7, Norment 6, Pack 6, Estes 1.
Siloam Springs (11-7, 1-4): Pippin 11, Owens 9, Cameron 8, Gay 3, Hoelscher 2, Stewart 2, Torres 2.
Van Buren 50, Siloam Springs 41
VAN BUREN -- The Lady Pointers swished 10 3-pointers en route to their third straight 7A/6A-Central win on Tuesday at Clair Bates Arena, while the Lady Panthers suffered their third straight loss.
Though Van Buren led by 10 in the third period, the Lady Panthers climbed back to within 43-40 with under three minutes to play. Though it had opportunities to get closer, Siloam Springs could not convert and Van Buren hung on to win.
Kaylee Sheppard had a game-high 18 points to pace the Lady Pointers while Lani Snowden added 16. Baily Cameron had 17 points to lead the Lady Panthers, while Bailee Owens scored nine.
Van Buren 50, Siloam Springs 41
Siloam Springs 7 11 15 8 -- 41
Van Buren 10 14 14 12 -- 50
Siloam Springs: Cameron 17, Owens 9, Jones 6, Stewart 5, Gay 3, Pippin 1.
Van Buren: Sheppard 18, Snowden 16, Kinney 9, Goodwin 5, Jennen 2.
Sports on 01/25/2015