Joe Imel/Daily NewsWarren East’s Ashley Rainey (background) shoots Monday over Christian County’s Denisha Mumford in the Lady Raiders’ 93-91 loss in overtime at Warren East High School.Click here for more photos from the Christian Co-Warren East game.

Christian County senior guard Denisha Mumford entered Monday’s game at Warren East in an early-season funk.

Unfortunately for the Lady Raiders, that funk ended about a minute too soon.

Mumford scored seven points in the final 67 seconds of regulation and added 13 points in overtime to help Christian County rally from a late nine-point deficit and escape with a 93-91 victory over Warren East.

Mumford’s performance nearly overshadowed a monster night from Warren East senior forward Ashley Rainey, who poured in 44 points and had 23 rebounds in the loss.

Christian County coach Anthony Hickey said he sensed Mumford, who finished the game with 35 points and seven rebounds, was going to step up.

“I got on to her pretty rough Saturday,” Hickey said. “We had a game and she didn’t get after it. I told that I expected more out of her and she should expect more out of herself

“We came in pregame and she said, ‘Coach, I got something to say.’ And she told the team she was sorry for the way she’d been playing and she was going to play harder and be her best.”

Mumford took over after teammate Shatera Lewis scored seven straight points to help Christian County (2-1) shave a 70-61 deficit to two with 1:20 remaining. The senior guard cut the margin to 71-70 after a pair of free throws, then tied the score at 73-73 on a 3 with 33.1 remaining.

After Warren East’s Kate Holmes connected on two free throws to put the Lady Raiders back in front, Mumford drove the length of the floor to tie the score at 75-75 and force overtime.

Mumford dominated the extra period, scoring 11 of Christian County’s final 13 points to help the Lady Colonels build a six-point margin.

Warren East (2-1) got as close as two in the final seconds, but no closer.

Warren East coach Angie Anderson said it was a tough loss to swallow.

“I hate losing, especially when we could have won,” Anderson said. “Me getting a technical in the first half didn’t help, because I can’t coach sitting. I think that had an impact on me. I think a lot of that loss was mine.”

Meanwhile, Rainey was saddled with two first half fouls, finishing the half with just eight points. But she put the Lady Raiders on her back with 28 points in the second half.

The Miss Basketball candidate scored eight points during a 10-0 run that gave Warren East a 60-49 lead early in the fourth quarter, then appeared to give the Lady Raiders breathing room with back-to-back buckets after Christian County trimmed the lead to 64-61 with three minutes left.

“I wish her the best,” Hickey said. “Her best basketball is ahead of her. The thing is, she is going to get hers. We just didn’t want someone else to get theirs.”

Warren East shot 52.2 percent from the field, while Christian County finished 42 percent from the field.

The Lady Colonels took advantage of a 53-50 rebounding margin, with most of the rebounds coming on the offensive end.

Click here for photos from the Christian Co-Warren East game.

“I don’t know how many offensive rebounds they got,” Anderson said. “We talk about defensive stops include rebounding. We just stood. We had stops defensively and we let them back in it with offensive rebounds.”

Christian County used an aggressive defense to force the Lady Raiders into 31 turnovers.

“That’s our M.O. – we’re an up-tempo team,” Hickey said. “I thought I hung in it too long, but when I saw they kept having to go to the bench, I said, ‘OK, we have to keep coming at them.’ ”

Lewis had a double-double for Christian County, finishing with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Amy Barnett had 15 points and Holmes added 14 points for Warren East.

While Anderson was disappointed with the outcome, she said Monday’s game will be a great learning tool.

“I’m just not pleased, because if we want to be the best we’ve got to play the best and we’ve got to win,” Anderson said. “The great thing about tonight’s game is that it’s early in the season and I don’t think we’re playing our best ball.”

Warren East returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Allen County-Scottsville. Christian County hosts Madisonville-North Hopkins at 6 p.m. tonight.

CCHS 14 16 19 26 18 – 93

WEHS 11 22 17 25 16 – 91

CCHS – Lewis 26, Mumford 35, Hester 2, Wilson 4, Barkley 8, McKnight 6, Williams 6, Brasher 6.

WEHS – Rainey 44, Ray 6, Barnett 15, Holmes 14, Crain 5, Vincent 4, White 3.