Bowling Green’s Lady Buccaneers had the long-range working Thursday night, as they knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored the game’s first 21 points in a 63-16 victory over Pontchartrain Christian Athletics at home.

The Lady Bucs took control from the start, using its full-court defense to help create turnovers. Bowling Green made 13 steals.

Bowling Green coach Pat King said they’ve been working on certain things defensively and improving fundamental basics that they do all year.

“I thought we did some good things. We’ve made some strides on our pressure defenses,” King said.

On the offensive end, the team Bowling Green was hitting from everywhere.

The Lady Bucs hit six threes in the first half. Bowling Green finished by hitting 40 percent of its field goals (26 of 65) and 40 percent from beyond the arc (eight for 20).

“Shooting is something that we’re fortunate to have,” King said. “Nobody here can really take credit for it, but we’re very fortunate because if you pack it in, we’ve got enough girls capable of making shots from 15-20 feet, and it helps us tremendously to be able to have a very sound offense in and out because of our shooting.”

Kristina Jerell scored 15 points to lead Bowling Green. She also grabbed four rebounds and made two steals.

Hollie Waskom, who posted seven points on 3-of-4 shooting to go with five rebounds, an assist and a steal, opened the 21-point scoring run with a 2-pointer after she made a steal.

Jerrell scored the Lady Bucs’ next two points on a pair of free throws.”

Reagan Moody, who posted seven points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal, was good for two more to make it a 6-0 lead.

Then the Lady Bucs began raining threes.

Jerrell hit her first of three treys for a 9-0 advantage.

Ashley Foret, who tallied 12 points, six boards, five steals and an assist, recorded a steal, followed by a layup.

Jerrell and Moody accounted for the next six points on 3-pointers, and Bowling Green had blown the game open, and led, 17-0, with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter.

The scoring continued 30 seconds later when Foret hit a shot. She then came up with a steal and was good on the ensuing layup to make it, 21-0.

Jerrell said starts like that feels good.

“We’re pumped up and ready, and we’re just excited for the rest of the game,” Jerrell said.

Gabriella Leahy put Pontchartrain on the board at the 3:06 mark but Bowling Green’s Katelin Junkins made it, 23-2. Then Waskom passed to Foret, who made a fake to get open, and hit the shot to close out the first-quarter scoring at 25-2.

Bowling Green began the second period with a pair of threes from Waskom and Sydney Watson, respectively, extending it to 31-2 just 49 seconds into the second period.

Pontchartrain, a homeschool based in Covington that features players from the Northshore and Southshore, began to get some offense going.

PCA went on an 8-1 run.

Avery Lockwood was good for two before Bowling Green’s Michele split from the line after grabbing an offensive rebound. It was, 32-4, with 6:05 left in the first half.

Naomi Stein, who led PCA with seven, hit a three, and then she was good for two and the lead was 32-9 at the 4:31 mark.

Jerrell ended the run with a three.

The Lady Buccaneers took a 43-13 lead to halftime.

In the second half, Bowling Green continued to play well on both ends of the floor, and the passed the ball extremely well.

The Lady Bucs outscored PCA, 11-1, in the third quarter before capping off the 63-16 final.

Bowling Green had 11 players in the scoring column.

McKinley Seal had six points on 3-of-6 shooting, five assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Mason Edwards totaled five points on two of four from the field, including one three, four boards and two assists.

Watson and Hallie Robertson posted three each. Watson also had two assists and a rebound. Robertson pulled down five rebounds.

Junkins and Peyton Stogner logged two each. Junkins finished with three rebounds and a steal.

Michel contributed one point, a rebound and an assist.

Bowling Green had 14 offensive rebounds.

The win moves the Lady Bucs’ record to 22-5.

Pontchartrain’s Lockwood had three while Leahy, Espe Borelly and Anagrace Borelly all had two.

PCA is now 11-6.