Twice in a row, they've stolen the show.

The Lincoln-West Lady Warriors basketball team took first place in the Titan Turkey Tourney for the second year in a row. The Warriors did it by beating the Tinley Park Lady Titans 52-40 on Tuesday night.

"We had some good moments and some bad moments," West coach Robert Lang said. "I'm happy with the outcome, but I didn't think our defensive effort was where it needs to be going forward into the conference."

Lincoln-Way West (3-1) came out swinging in the first quarter. Senior guard Kaitlyn Ray scored first for the Warriors on a 3-pointer to put her team up 3-2. Ray dropped in two more 3-point shots and a free throw to rack up 10 points as West built an 18-7 lead.

The Titans (1-2) began to fight back in the second quarter, Mariah Blackman sank a 3-pointer to cut the Warriors' lead to 26-13. Just moments later, Diamond Beatty picked up a big rebound for Tinely Park and scored as the Titans pulled within 26-20. But Ray was able to come up with four more points for the Warriors to make the score 30-21 at the half. 

The Titans were not going to go down easily. Cristina Delvecchio sank a shot for Tinley Park that cut the Warriors' lead to 37-27. But after missing her free throw, senior guard Sara Losacco grabbed her own rebound and scored to put West back in front 40-27. But Delvecchio hit a shot to help the Titans close to within nine. The Warriors would score once more before the buzzer rang--on a shot by junior forward Chelsea Rocha to make it 42-31.

Ray was able to was able to rack up four more points for the Warriors to give them a 50-35 lead. But the Titans didn't give up. A free throw from Angelica LaFemina made the score 52-37. Beatty was able to hit a 3-pointer for the Titans right before the final horn, but it just wouldn't be enough.

"I thought we played hard for three quarters, but just kind of ran out of gas in the fourth," Titans coach Jason Becker said. "Our shooting (was an issue). I thought we had some open shots and a chance to be in the game. But we just couldn't do it."

Blackman led the Titans with nine points. LaFemina and Delvecchio each finished with six points.

Ray put up 27 points for the Warriors. Senior forward Samantha Villa added 11.

Ray said that the Warriors will have to focus as they move forward into conference play. "We're going to come out with the same intensity," she said. "Hopefully, we can get that first conference win."