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The young Wyoming East Lady Warriors are having a growth spurt.

A week after battling AA No. 4 Summers County to the wire, East knocked off Bluefield, 63-45, last Thursday night at New Richmond.

Just a month earlier, WEHS was shellacked by nearly 40 points when it played at Bluefield.

“Our chemistry is improving,” said East coach Angie Boninsegna. “We’re young and we’re still learning to play together.

“When we played over there, they controlled the tempo,” she added.

“Tonight we controlled it,” said East sophomore Bre Pertee.

Pertee had a double-double for the Warriors. She scored 28 points and pulled down 20 rebounds.

“They had a smaller person guarding her, and she was able to take advantage of that,” Boninsegna commented.

“My teammates on the outside were getting the ball to me,” Pertee noted.

It was 21-19 in the second quarter when East went on a 14-0 run which put it in control for the rest of the game.

Pertee posted up for a bucket and was fouled on the play with 3:44 showing. Her free throw made it 24-19.

Hailey Lowman had a put back, and Pertee scored three straight field goals inside. It was 32-19 with less than a minute left.

Lowman made the first of two frees. Pertee got the rebound off the missed foul shot and laid it back in. It was 35-19.

WEHS (8-7) had a 35-20 lead at halftime.

The Beavers scored twice to start the third period, cutting the margin to 11.

East called a quick time out to right the ship.

Hannah Ford drove in for two, then stole the ball and scored again. It was 39-24.

East had an 8-0 run to take its first 20-point lead of the night at 47-27 early in the final quarter.

Bluefield didn’t get closer than 15 the rest of the way.

Ford also had a double-double, with 16 points and 13 boards. Chelsea Duncan added 13. Kristen Bailey dished out five assists. Ford had four steals.

Sheila Hopkins (9), Dazia Edwards (8) and Jessica Hayden (8) paced Bluefield, which dropped to 8-7.

East is slated to host Greenbrier West on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Photo: Chiara Jewell (with ball) of Wyoming East works between Bluefield defenders in Thursday night’s game at New Richmond.