Senior Viking captain Crystal Hicks turned in an amazing 15-point, 27-rebound double-double performance Tuesday, to led Union Pines to a 52-46 league clash against Overhills in Cameron.

With the victory, the homestanding Lady Viking basketball team (11-4) took over sole possession of second place in the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference standings at 5-1 in league play, one game behind Southern lee (13-2, 6-0) at the midpoint through the conference schedule. Overhills (11-4, 4-2) slipped to third place in the seven-team league with the loss.

Captain Tyler Ross delivered her fourth straight double-double of the season for Union Pines with a 18-point, 14-rebound performance along with four steals. A 5-foot-11 junior two-sport standout, Ross recently made a verbal commitment to bring her softball talents to North Carolina State University as a scholarship player, upon graduating from high school in 2013.

Through one period of play Tuesday, the Vikes led 17-13, while Hicks had already procured 10 rebounds and doled out two assists. At intermission Union Pines led 25-21.

Ross scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the second half, to help the Vikings remain in front throughout the remainder of the contest.

Two straight feeds from Hicks to sophomore guard Lexi Coxe led to transition scores as Union Pines took a 36-25 lead. Soon Ross scored on a putback to push the advantage to 40-28 with 1:12 to go in the third frame.

Trailing 40-30 to start the final quarter, Overhills kept scrapping on defense. Two deep bombs from Jaguar shooting guard Katelyn Clark cut Union Pines' lead to 45-41 with 2:38 left to play. After scoring three points on a free throw by Dasia McCrimmon and a critical putback by Tiffany Hicks, the Vikes went up 48-41 at the 1:56 mark.

From there Crystal Hicks put the victory on ice, going four-for-four from the charity stripe down the stretch. Coxe finished with nine points for the Vikings, while McCrimmon chipped in with seven including two (made) treys.

Clark led the Jags with 14 points, while Ge'Naisha Robinson and Jasmine Canady joined her in double digits, scoring 13 and 11 respectively.

Union Pines closes out the week with a CFVC league tilt Friday in Fayetteville against Douglas Byrd.