KERNERSVILLE — The Lady Greyhounds built a first-half lead, then held off a Bishop rally for a 37-33 win on the road Tuesday.

North Surry (12-1) improved to 7-0 in the Northwest Conference, while Bishop fell to 4-2, tied with Surry Central for third place, a game behind East Surry at 5-1.

“Obviously we had a great start and built an 11-point lead,” said Coach Shane Slate. “We made good decisions with the ball on offense.” He said the team had just six turnovers in the first half.

The defense did a good job of containing the Lady Villains’ offense, he said.

Power forward Julia Brown, who posted 18 points in a win over Surry Central, was held scoreless.

Slate said the Hounds’ three post players — Malaya Johnson, Kristina Rumplasch and Erin March — took turns guarding Brown and center Cameron Nieters.

They tried to focus on denying entry passes, then contesting every shot attempt, Slate said.

Nieters scored eight, while the Hounds’ inside threesome posted 28. Johnson led the team with 13, Rumplasch added 11 and March four.

Maddison Hawks gave the Hounds a wing threat with eight points and sister Morgan had one.

Rumplasch added a team-high five assists and seven boards, while Johnson had six rebounds and three blocks.

“We knew they would make a run,” the coach said of the Villains.

Bishop likes the three-point shot, but didn’t hit one in the first half. The Villains hit three in the second half and a couple of midrange jumpers, too, which helped spark their offense in the second half, he said.

The Hounds led 12-3 after the first quarter and 21-10 at the break. However the Villains cut the lead to a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter.

North Surry kept making enough plays to hang on to the lead. Then Rumplasch hit two free throws and Morgan Hawks 1-2 in the final minute to preserve the win.

Sophomore Tessa Johnston, who averages six points per game, led the Villains with 14.

The Hounds travel to East Surry on Friday in a matchup of the first- and second-place teams.