HANCEVILLE — Wallace State’s women’s basketball team geared up for conference play on Wednesday with an impressive 76-65 victory over Georgia Highlands at Tom Drake Coliseum.

Freshman Joy Sadler led the way with 16 points for Wallace State, sophomore Kelsey Houston drained five 3-pointers and the Lady Lions had 12 players score at least two points.

Wallace State (11-5) registered as much as a 22-point lead in the second half, avenging a December road loss to the Chargers.

“I was pleased with the way we played. We shot the ball well and played much better defense than we did in Georgia,” said coach Ron Burdette. “We have to continue to learn how to finish games. It’s not our job to stop playing. It’s the opponents’ job to stop us. Some of our freshmen are starting to come around, and our sophomores are playing solid. We are getting contributions up and down the bench.”

Morgan Higgins and Gabby Hill scored eight points apiece for Wallace State, while Alexis Cooper and Sydney Powell each added six points.

Pam Diokpara paced Georgia Highlands with 20 points.

Houston, a Tanner graduate, has hit a conference-best 46 treys in 16 games this season.

Wallace State travels to Cleveland (Tenn.) State on Saturday before conference play begins on Jan. 12 at Gadsden State.

“It’s going to be a totally different animal on the road in the conference,” Burdette said. “We have to be ready.”