Cold Springs’ Aubrey Negron fights for a rebound during Friday’s game against Hatton.

HANCEVILLE — Elizabeth Hill and Cold Springs’ varsity girls made short work of Hatton on Friday night.

Hill registered 26 points and 10 rebounds at the Northwest Regional

Tournament to help the Class 2A No. 5 Lady Eagles ease to a 49-33 victory and advance to the championship game at Wallace State.

Cold Springs (25-6) will take on Red Bay (15-14) next Tuesday at 4 p.m. for a chance to punch its ticket to Birmingham.

The Lady Eagles used an 11-0 run — defense led to offense — beginning late in the first quarter to take a commanding 24-6 lead.

Although the Lady Hornets (23-8) cut their deficit to 14 heading into halftime, they simply had no answers for Hill and trailed 41-18 entering the fourth quarter.

Hill finished 9 of 10 from the floor and 8 of 11 from the free-throw line.

Her terrific performance helped offset a tepid shooting night for Cold Springs.

“I just listen to Mrs. (Tammy) West,” the junior said. “At practice all week, she was telling me to attack. I know what she expects from me, so I just have to take the ball and do it.”

West is certainly happy Hill heeded her message.

“She needed to be in attack mode, because she can get in there and finish,” West said. “When she was doubled, she made some good passes. I’ve told her all along she needs to be shooting the ball more. She’s the one who can create her own shot and finish with her size and skill. She had some great moves tonight.”

Camryn Crider notched 10 points, while Aubrey Negron (six), Kylon Hamby (four), Lina Lieckfeld (two) and Toni West (one) rounded out the offensive output.

Lieckfeld added 12 rebounds as the Lady Eagles won the battle on the glass 40-29.

Hatton was led in scoring by Grace Ann Johnson (13) and Josie Harville (12).

Cold Springs will play in its third straight regional final next Tuesday against Red Bay.

The Lady Tigers advanced following a 36-28 win over Altamont.

The teams met earlier this season in the Winfield Christmas Tournament — a 42-25 triumph for the Lady Eagles.

But a whole lot as changed since then, and West knows her squad will need to be ready to play.

A win would send Cold Springs to the state tournament for the first time since 2009.

A loss would mean more heartbreak inside Tom Drake Coliseum.

“We’re a much different team than we were at Christmas, and I’m sure they are as well,” West said. “I know there are some things we can work on before Tuesday. But we’ve talked about this all year long. We know that we have a great opportunity in front of us. I told them after tonight’s game that I thought we left some things on this floor last year. A lot of times, you don’t get a second chance. Hopefully we can go out there on Tuesday and take care of business.”

Added Hill: “We’re older and more mature. I feel like we have great chemistry together, and we know what we need to do on Tuesday.”