HOBART -- It was a pressure-packed night for Hobart, as the Brickies aimed to earn a share of second place in the Duneland Conference and grab a win to cap the regular season.

The pressure wasn't all internal, however. Visiting Crown Point supplied plenty of it, as well.

The Times No. 4 Bulldogs forced Hobart into 29 turnovers and won a 45-33 decision Saturday night. Alex Webster led the charge with six steals, as CP took charge with a 13-0 first-quarter run that was fueled by a suffocating full-court press.

After a mid-season lull that saw the Bulldogs (14-5, 6-1) lose three out of four games, all at home, Crown Point has now won six straight. Six of the 'Dogs last seven games are in opposing gyms, including the only remaining battle against defending Class 2A state champion Fort Wayne Luers.

Webster certainly didn't look uncomfortable on the road, adding a game-high 17 points and five rebounds to her overall effort.

"The season gets long in the middle," Webster said. "I think we were at home for too long. We just needed to travel and play. I think for some of the younger kids, it's intimidating to be in front of a big house with all their friends watching."

Freshman Cassie Pruzin was one of the CP youngsters who turned it up a notch Saturday. She had seven points and four assists, all in the first half, continuing to grow into the role granted to her from the second she set foot in the high school building.

Pruzin nailed the 3-pointer that started the early run, helping turn the tide after a sluggish first three minutes that saw the Bulldogs trail 5-1.

"Tonight she was playing against possibly the best point guard in the Duneland Conference," said Crown Point coach Tom May. "All we wanted was for Cassie to cancel out (Amanda) Stoops."

Times No. 7 Hobart (12-8, 4-3) got 12 points and five steals from Stoops and 10 points from Brittany Drobac.

"We didn't handle their press well," said Brickies coach Kristen Peterson. "They got after it for four quarters and it showed.
"Having played at Valpo, doubt never once entered our minds when we took the court. I'm trying to get them to understand that we can be that good. If we can get to that point, I think we'll start to have a successful program."

Crown Point opened its first 10-point lead of the night when Webster drilled a 3-pointer at the second-quarter buzzer. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 15 points, 38-23, during a 9-2 stretch in the third quarter.

Carissa Triplett had four points and nine rebounds for CP, which clinched sole possession of second-place in the DAC. Danielle Brueck scored six points.

"We have some other kids looking to score," May said. "Early in the year, those kids caught the ball and passed it back to Alex."

Jeff Carroll can be reached at jeffcar@howpubs.com or (219) 933-3373.

CROWN POINT (45)
Cassie Pruzin 2-5 2-2 7, Alex Webster 5-13 6-8 17, Amy Zondor 0-5 2-6 2, Blayre Reeves 1-3 0-0 2, Carissa Triplett 1-4 2-2 4, Allison Isailovich 2-3 0-0 4, Danielle Brueck 3-6 0-0 6, Ashley Plumley 0-1 0-0 0, Keri Cuculich 1-1 0-0 2, Janel Heneghan 0-0 0-0 0, Jill Weiand 0-0 0-0 0, Stephanie Swanson 0-0 1-2 1, Kaitlyn Sertich 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-41 13-20 45.

HOBART (33)
Amanda Stoops 3-4 4-6 12, Kelly Pero 0-1 0-0 0, Lisa Matie 3-9 1-1 9, Casey Schwab 1-4 0-0 2, Brittany Drobac 4-8 2-5 10, Megan Walczak 0-2 0-0 0, Jessica Boyles 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 11-32 7-12 33.

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Crown Point 16 13 9 7 -- 45
Hobart 7 12 6 8 -- 33
3-point field goals: Pruzin 1, Webster 1 (CP); Matie 2, Stoops 2 (H). Rebound leaders: Triplett 9 (CP); Scwab 4, Drobac 4 (H). Assist leader: Pruzin 4 (CP); Matie 3 (H). Steal leaders: Webster 6 (CP); Stoops 5 (H). Team fouls: Crown Point 12, Hobart 14. Fouled out: None. JV Score: Crown Point 28, Hobart 15.