The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs came out in the third period, and let the Ashford Lady Yellow Jackets get a taste of their defensive game.

Andalusia outscored Ashford 20-2 in the third period, and went on an 18-0 run and beat the Yellow Jackets 62-27 to clinch the Class 4A, Area 3 regular season title.

With this win, the Lady Bulldogs will host the area tournament next month, and will enter it as the No. 1 seed.

“That puts us in a good spot,” AHS girls coach Bennie Shellhouse said about the win.

Early in the third period, Andalusia’s Alexis Horton got things rolling with a jumper. A pass from Tyleshia Malcolm to Horton gave the Lady Bulldogs a 39-18 lead. Alectricia Barnes then stole the ball and put it in for a lay up.

The next two set of offensive plays were both steals that ended up in Horton’s hands for easy lay ups.

Andalusia finished their 18-0 run leading 53-18 late in the third to put the game out of reach for Ashford.

“We came back out and played a little harder right there at the beginning,” Shellhouse said about the run. “I think they went about 10 possessions right there without getting it past the free throw line. That was big for us right there.”

The Lady Bulldogs went on an early 8-0 run in the first period, forcing turnover after turnover to get a 21-7 lead at the end of the opening period.

Horton, who led the Lady Bulldogs with 26 points, procured several steals for Andalusia. Horton, if she didn’t drive the ball in for a layup, would pass to Barnes, who made the essential easy baskets for her team. Barnes finished with 12 points.

Malcolm scooped up rebounds for her team in the second period, and Andalusia went on to outscore Ashford 17-11 with the help of Shi’Amber Townsend, Horton and Latrexius Trawick. Townsend had 11 points, and Trawick contributed with six points.

Shellhouse sent in his younger players, along with Ashford, to give them some playing time in the fourth period.

He said they played good on defense in the fourth, holding the Lady Yellow Jackets to only seven points.

Tanequa Dismukes led Ashford with nine points.

Andalusia hosts Calera tonight at 5:45.