MADISON — Monmouth Academy rode a 15-point lead in the second quarter to a 52-40 win over Madison on Friday in a Mountain Valley Conference girls’ basketball match-up.

After a first quarter that saw the lead change hands five times the Mustangs scored on five of their first six possessions to jump out to a commanding, 25-10 lead, at 4:56. A lead they would never relinquish.

“Once we got that lead it forced Madison to come out and pressure us,” Monmouth coach Scott Wing said. “That was something that helped us on offense.”

Monmouth improved to 14-2 with the win while Madison dipped to 10-6. It was the Mustangs’ fifth straight win. With two games remaining in the regular season, Monmouth appears to be slotted into the No. 2 spot in Class C South.

Facing a solid player-to-player defense, the Bulldogs could never get off the mark offensively. Monmouth pressured occasionally but relied mainly on its solid half court presence.

“We just went straight up player-to-player,” Wing said. “It’s the biggest thing about this team, we work a lot on defensive skills and it showed tonight.”

Madison took a 6-5 lead on a short jumper by Emily Oliver at 5:14 of the first quarter, just before Monmouth went on a 10-4 run to close out the quarter on top 15-10.

Tia Day paced the Mustangs’ first quarter effort, scoring nine of her game-high 14 points.

Day opened the second quarter knocking down a long 3-pointer from the top of the arc sending her teammates on a ten point run. Haley West (nine points) hit a conventional 3-point play along with a 14-foot jumper to push the lead to 23-10.

Abbey Allen hit from the right corner for a 25-10 advantage with 4:56 left in the half.

Madison rallied with five different players scoring to cut the Monmouth lead to 29-20 at the half. Kayla Bess led the Bulldogs with 13 points, while Madeline Wood added 11.

“I think we gave a good effort,” Madison coach Al Veneziano said. “We were a bit off in our shooting but as long as they are working hard, that’s all you can ask for.”

Sidney Wilson (11 points) helped Monmouth extend its lead in the third quarter scoring on a 15-foot jumper from the left side and converting a 3-point play on a fast break lay-up that gave the Mustangs a 34-22 lead.

Hannah Anderson’s (10 points) basket in the paint closed out the third quarter for Monmouth, grabbing a 39-27 lead.

Monmouth finished off the game in the fourth quarter making just one basket, that came with nine seconds left in the game. The Mustangs connected on 11 of 16 free throws in the quarter.