Higgins leads Sacred Heart in state playoffs

Sacred Heart was shorthanded but survived.

Taylor Higgins scored eight of her 16 points in the third quarter as Sacred Heart pulled away in its 55-46 win over Cardinal O'Hara in the first round of the state CHSAA Class B playoffs at St. Dominic.

Kristen Brent and Becky Conto each added 10 points and Nina Corcoran had six points, four assists and four steals.

Sacred Heart (7-13) was without its lone senior starter, Liz Hauser, who was out with an arm injury.

Sacred Heart will play St. John's Prep of Queens at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. John Villa on Staten Island.

Leah McDonnell scored 19 points for Cardinal O'Hara.