Millennium faced its toughest test of the season Thursday afternoon and proved it was ready for a challenge against Riverdale Baptist, Md.

Millennium coach Courtand Rojeck was cautious in his pre-game thoughts, but ended them with "We're up for this."

Indeed, the Lady Tigers were as they started fast and finished strong in posting a 58-49 win over Riverdale Baptist in an opening round game in the Joe Smith Division of the 18th annual Nike Tournament of Champions girls basketball invite.

Millennium advanced its record to 11-0 for the year and won its third game in four days this week.  Millennium entered the contest ranked No. 23 nationally in Max Preps Xcellent 25 girls basketball rankings. Riverdale Baptist (4-3), which plays a tough schedule with teams from around the country, was in those rankings until losses last week dropped it out. Millennium advances to the quarterfinals of its division on Friday and faces Parkview of Liburn, Ga. at 4:40 p.m. at Hamilton HS. Parkview routed Cleveland High (Seattle, Wa.) in its game Thursday, 67-32. 

Defense and balance paced Millennium's win. The Lady Tigers outscored Riverdale Baptist, 19-10, in the final period in a game Millennium led virtually all the way. Junior point guard Raina Lopez tallied 12 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth period. Perez was limited to two points in the first half, but was picked up by teammates on the offensive end as another sign of maturity for the still young, yet veteran squad.

"The Raina you saw in the fourth quarter is the Raina you usually see for four quarters," Rojeck said.

Junior Adriana Zelaya scored 10 points -- all in the first half -- and connected on three 3s in the first period to get Millennium off and running. After that it was Passionate Amukamara (9 points), Quynne Huggins and Wati Franklin (8 points each) keeping Millennium on an even-keel. The difference was the Lady Tigers defense of the Crusaders, particularly in the final period.

"Defensively it was the best executed game we've played this year," Rojeck said. "Especially considering it was against the best team we've played. We did a great job fronting their big people, and our guards pressuring."

A 13-2 run from the 6:19 mark of the final quarter to the 1:31 mark was impressive. Riverdale Baptist started three players 6-foot or taller and they were a handful inside. Zion Campbell (6-4), Lena Niang (6-2) and Passion Scott (6-1) managed just four points combined in the final periiod. Millennium forced seven turnovers in the fourth period and the quarter would have been a very clean one had the Lady Tigers not committed four turnovers in the final 1:20 themselves. With an 11-point lead at that stage, it didn't hurt them.

Riverdale Baptist was led by sixth-man Alexus Willey, who is 6-1 with 11 points. Niang finished with nine and Campbell totated eight points.

Rojeck said his team responded to a short practice Wednesday, that essentially boiled down to a film session on Riverdale Baptist. His team needed time off from the court after back-to-back games and it helped give them fresh legs for the game.