PETERSBURG-Defense has been Southampton Academy’s calling card this season. On Saturday night, it carried the Lady Raiders to the Virginia Commonwealth Conference basketball tournament championship.

SA defeated Blessed Sacrament Huguenot 32-13 in the title game at Richard Bland College.

The Lady Raiders struggled early, leading just 4-2 after one quarter, but picked up the pace for an 18-4 halftime lead and never looked back.

Gabby Gatten, who was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, had 15 points. Lindsay Raulston, who made the All-Tournament team, added 8 points, followed by Catherine Glover with 4, Forrest Best, 3, and Ginny Taylor, 2.

The Lady Raiders, who beat Amelia Academy 44-38 in Friday’s semifinals, will open play this week in the Virginia Independent Schools Division 3 state tournament. SA earned a third seed in the 10-team field and will host Tandem Friends School of Charlottesville at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The game had been scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed due to winter weather. A win Wednesday would put the Lady Raiders in the state semifinals at 12:45 p.m. Friday at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax.