Fortunately for Merrillville, Alex Webster -- Crown Point's top scorer -- was held to 15 points.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, she dominated everywhere else.

Webster finished three assists short of a triple-double as she led the Times No. 2 Bulldogs to a 68-35 thrashing of the Pirates in Duneland Athletic Conference action Friday night.

"My shooting was way off," Webster said. "When I can't bring scoring to the game, I have to bring other aspects to the game. I had the opportunities, then people capitalized, and we did a real good job tonight.

"Coming into a game I usually expect to score about 18 points. This team needs me to score. It's a role I have to step into this year. Lately I've been up and down with my scoring so I need to get it to a constant level and that's been something that I've got to work on."

Webster's 12 steals helped lead the Bulldogs' (6-2, 2-0 DAC) pressing defense that was responsible for creating 29 turnovers for Merrillville (3-3, 1-1).

"We usually press to try to keep up the pace of the game," Webster said. "It wasn't really needed tonight because the pace was really quick anyways. But it's a good way to get turnovers, and we did a really good job tonight."

The Pirates also brought a press defense of their own, which caused Crown Point to cough up the ball 15 times. The Bulldogs took a quick 10-0 lead to open the game, which was followed by a 14-4 Merrillville run which tied up the game with less than five minutes to go in the first half.

"I think Merrillville is a very improved team this year," Bulldogs coach Tom May said. "They did do something that most teams didn't do in past games which is trap us, press us and attack us when we pressed them. That created a lot of problems for us throughout the game."

Merrillville's press limited the Bulldogs to only two players in double figures. Cassie Pruzin finished with 14 points.

"She's a great player and she can get that," Webster said. "She needs to have confidence in herself that she can get that. She has to understand that we need her on the floor and she was an excellent floor leader tonight."

Merrillville's press created problems for Heather Renehan. After scoring all eight of Merrillville's first quarter points, Renehan was pulled from the game after picking up three fouls early in the first half, and she picked up her fourth foul with 6:50 left in the third.

"Renehan's foul trouble hurt us all night," Merrillville coach Joe Poteet said. "She was aggressive. She was going after people."

CROWN POINT (68)

Ashley Plumley 2 2-2 6, Cassie Pruzin 5 3-3 14, Alex Webster 7 1-4 15, Danielle Brueck 0 0-0 0, Amy Zondor 1 0-0 2, Blayre Reeves 2 3-4 7, Stephanie Swanson 0 2-2 2, Allison Isailovich 0 1-2 1, Keri Cuculich 1 2-2 4, Janel Heneghan 4 1-2 9, Kathleen Fredericks 0 0-0 0, Jill Weiand 1 1-2 3, Lauren Rhodes 0 0-0 0, Carissa Triplet 2 1-4 5. Totals 25 17-27 68.

MERRILLVILLE (35)

Julie Seagraves 4 0-0 8, Brittany Ursery 2 1-2 5, Melissa Sanchez 0 0-0 0, Ebony Pope 0 0-0 0, Heather Renehan 3 1-2 8, Tianna Coleman 0 0-0 0, Kim Shapley 1 0-0 2, Marshay Jolly 4 0-0 9, Karen Davis 1 0-0 2, Melissa Borom 0 1-3 1, Rosalinda Sanchez 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 3-7 35.

SCORING BY QUARTERS

Crown Point   14 17 15 22 -- 68

Merrillville      8 10 10 7 -- 35

3-point field goals: Pruzin (CP); Renehan, Jolly (M). Rebound leaders: Heneghan 6, Webster 6 (CP); Jolly 12 (M). Assist leaders: Webster 7 (CP); Ursery 4 (M). Steal leaders: Webster 12 (CP); Renehan 3 (M). Team fouls: Crown Point 15, Merrillville 22. Fouled out: Davis, Renehan (M). JV score: Crown Point 27, Merrillville 2.