ROCKLAND – The Rockland girls basketball team played two different halves in its 64-46 victory over visiting Mount View of Thorndike Tuesday night.

In the first half, the Tigers didn’t get to the free-throw line, didn’t box out for rebounds consistently, and didn’t get a strong offensive game from junior center Caitlin Hynes.

But in the second, Rockland managed to turn things around.

Hynes scored 18 of her game-high 26 points after halftime to help power the Tigers to their second win in as many games.

Rockland outscored Mount View 19-9 in the third quarter after holding a shaky three-point lead at halftime.

The biggest difference?

Drawing fouls – and making free throws.

The Tigers were 4 for 5 from the line in the first half, while Mount View was 11 for 17.

In the second half, Rockland went 10 for 16 but made shots when it needed them.

“We focused on foul situations, taking a shot at the hole knowing that if we played hard the fouls were something that would take care of themselves,” Rockland coach Karen Bickmore said. “That did make a big difference.”

The Tigers got some much-needed momentum going into halftime when Allie Todd hit a 3-pointer – the second of her three in the game – with 25 seconds left in the second quarter, breaking a 26-26 tie. Todd got to the line early in the third quarter, followed by Hynes.

They each made one of two attempts, followed by a Nicole Clark jumper, and then Hynes converted two FTs after she was fouled while driving to the basket for a nine-point edge.

“We weren’t going to the basket in the first half, but we came out and did it in the second half,” senior guard Kasey Felt said. “We knew we needed to step it up, we came out [of halftime] and boxed out better, settled down a little more.”

Mount View’s Stephanie Mehuren hit a jump shot to end the Tigers’ 6-0 run and the two teams traded hoops until Hynes took over the game, draining a short jumper, hitting a fast-break layup, and then putting in a basket off a pass from Lindsay Barnes. Todd hit another 3-pointer for a 48-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Hynes, who was 4 for 10 from the floor in the first half, made 7 of her 9 attempts in the second half. She accounted for all of a 7-0 Rockland run in the fourth quarter.

“It took me a while to get into the game at the beginning,” Hynes said.

Hynes also had eight rebounds. Barnes added 11 boards and 11 points and Todd chipped in with 12 points.

Free throws were key for Mount View in the first half, which allowed the Mustangs to recover from an early 11-2 deficit. They outscored the Tigers 14-12 in the second quarter, including eight free throws.

“That was the difference,” Mount View coach Eileen Ellis said. “In the first half we were on the line. Once [Rockland] got a little bit of a lead I think my girls kind of felt it slipping away. I think it’s just going to take a little bit of time for us. We haven’t really gelled yet.”

The Mustangs (0-2) also rebounded well in the first half with 10 offensive boards, several coming off missed free throws. Tonya Jones and Kelsy Richard each finished with nine rebounds. Mount View ended up with a 32-31 rebounding edge.

Rockland played several different zone defenses, trying to pack in the middle to limit Mount View’s short-range jumpers while conceding the outside (the Mustangs were 3-for-6 from 3-point range). Mount View stayed in man for the most part, with Richard guarding Hynes as a key matchup.

Amy Miles led the Mustangs with 13 points and five assists. Richard, who hit all four of her free-throw attempts in the second quarter, added 10.

TIGERS 64, MUSTANGS 46

Mount View (0-2) Rockland (2-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

A.Miles 4 15 5 6 13 Todd 4 9 12

L.Miles 3 9 0 0 9 N.Clark 2 2 6

Jones 1 10 3 7 5 Barnes 4 10 11

Caler 0 0 0 0 0 Hynes 11 19 26

Richard 3 4 4 4 10 Hanson 0 0 2

Stevens 0 0 0 0 0 Kenniston 0 0

Clements 2 3 1 4 5 D.Clark 0 0 0

Mehuren 2 5 0 0 4 Felt 2 8 7

Totals 15 46 13 21 46 23 49 14 21 64

Mount View 12 26 35 46

Rockland 17 29 48 64

3-pt. goals – Mount View (3-6): L. Miles 3-5, A. Miles 0-1; Rockland (4-7): Todd 3-3, Felt 1-4

JV: Rockland 45-44

Attendance: 150 (est.)