MOUNTLAKE TERRACE – A tough start to the 2009-10 season got a little easier for the Mountlake Terrace girls basketball team.

The Hawks scored their first victory of the year by withstanding a late surge by Everett to prevail 56-46 in a non-conference game Dec. 30 at Mountlake Terrace High School.

Coming into the contest, the Hawks (0-5 in the Wesco South Division, 1-6 overall) had not outscored an opponent in any quarter. Mountlake Terrace had the edge in three of the four quarters against the Seagulls, including a decisive 19-12 advantage in the final period.

“We’re working so hard in practice and it’s finally nice to get some assurance that we can do it,” said senior Corinne Pingul, who led the Hawks with 15 points. “Our confidence just from this win is going to improve our game tremendously.”

The Hawks had an early 13-point lead and was ahead by nine points midway through the third quarter before the Seagulls started chipping away at the lead. Mountlake Terrace saw its lead cut to 37-34 entering the fourth quarter. Everett managed to draw to within just a point three times but the Hawks pushed back each time.

With Mountlake Terrace ahead 41-40 with just over five minutes remaining, Pingul connected on three of four free throws to give her team a 44-40 advantage. Teryn Bouche and Amanda Lockleer followed with baskets before Lauren Wilson hit back-to-back shots to give the Hawks a 52-42 lead with about two minutes to go in the game.

“We responded really well,” Mountlake Terrace coach David Brophy said.

After struggling with their free throws all game, the Hawks connected on four of six to close out the game.

“We controlled the tempo,” Brophy said. “We played good defense and we kept their bigs off the board as much as we could. It helped that we put a little pressure on their guards. We got a few turnovers for baskets.”

Mountlake Terrace finished with 19 steals. The Hawks made 12 of 22 free throws (55 percent), less than their 65 percent season average.

“The girls fought hard,” Brophy said. “Their inside girls are a tough pair to handle. Our girls fought them tooth and nail right inside there. … Probably the difference was we took a little bit better advantage of our opportunities.”

Brophy wasn’t surprised by Mountlake Terrace’s early season struggles. The Hawks return only three players with varsity experience.

“Some of the girls are learning how to play varsity basketball as well as how to be teammates,” he said. “We’re kind of getting to know each other. We’re getting better.”

The last time Pingul, one of the varsity returners, played with some of her teammates was in middle school.

“It’s kind of like a flashback to the past,” Pingul said. “But they’re working hard. … We’re starting to get the hang of it. It showed in the game today.”

One player coming into her own is Wilson, who is averaging eight points and 10 rebounds a game. Wilson, a first-year varsity player, is only 5-foot-8.

“She gets the rebounds,” Pingul said.

“She’s obviously figuring out what she needs to do,” Brophy added.

Wilson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six steals. Everett (1-7 overall) was led by Jesselyn Taggart, who scored a game-high 25 points.

The Hawks’ goal defensively was for each player to go all out and force the issue.

The coaches told the players that “you’re going to challenge your own girl and your teammates are going to help you if you get beat,” Pingul said. “We challenged ourselves.”

Mountlake Terrace’s practices during the holiday break were a key reason for the victory, according to Pingul. Brophy emphasizes that people have to play in practice how they are going to play in the game.

“It’s started to sink in,” Pingul said. “We started to push each other like we would during a game. … That built our confidence a lot.”

Pingul was happy to see the Hawks respond late in the game when Everett closed the gap.

“I’m really glad that we finally found a way to pick it back up at the end because that is something we’ve really struggled with,” she said. “That has a lot to do with attitude.”