PIPPA PASSES, Ky. - Looking to separate from a pesky opponent, the Midway women's basketball team got the momentum boost it needed in unlikely fashion Wednesday night.

Jacie Chesser blew open a close game late in the third quarter with her first made 3-pointer at Midway, as the Eagles were able to pull away for a 76-61 road win over in-state, River States Conference rival Alice Lloyd.

The matchup had the look of a blowout early, as the visiting Eagles didn't allow a field goal for nearly eight minutes, opening up a 15-2 lead in the process.

But the home Eagles put together a strong counter punch, answering with an 18-3 run of their own to take the lead. They were then able to keep things close well into the third quarter after Midway pulled back ahead 35-29 at halftime.

With Midway ahead 50-46, Chesser, who tied a career-high with 18 points, provided perhaps the biggest shift of the evening. Catching an Aleah Arlinghaus pass at the top of the key with 15 seconds left on the shot clock, Chesser didn't hesitate and hit nothing but net from deep 3-point territory.

Now in her second year with the program, the shot was just Chesser's second 3-point attempt of the season and her first make in 13 attempts as an Eagle. 

Midway then got a further boost at quarter's end, when A'Lyrica Hughes pulled down a defensive rebound with six seconds remaining, then drove coast-to-coast to make a layup just before the buzzer.

Hughes added 16 points while leading all players with eight points and four steals.

Alice Lloyd got as close as five points in the fourth quarter, only for Midway to pull away to earn its 10th win in the last 11 meetings with ALC.

The Eagles are 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the RSC.

They will get a serious road challenge on Saturday, traveling to face Shawnee State (Ohio) at 3 p.m. The Bears are 10-3 on the season and off to a 3-0 start in league play, highlighted by an 81-73 win over eighth-ranked Rio Grand (Ohio) last Saturday.