Defending champion Davenport Assumption is moving ahead in the Class 3A state tournament.

Danielle Moore led a big run during the middle of the game that carried fourth-ranked Assumption to a 54-41 victory over Glenwood in first-round action. Assumption improved to 23-2 under first-year coach Mallory Youngblut and will play in a semifinal game at 7:45 p.m. Thursday.

Moore shot 4-for-7 from 3-point range and led all scorers with 23 points. Kate Fennelly added 12 points for the Knights, while Jasmine Binion and Grace Fennelly scored six each.

Morgan Lucy led Glenwood with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in her final high school game. Lucy is Glenwood's career scoring leader with more than 1,000 points and will play at Southwest Baptist next season.

Grace Newman added eight points for the Rams, who reached the state tournament for the first time since making the six-player field in 1979.

Glenwood held Assumption at bay early and led 12-8 going into the second quarter. The Knights then got rolling and hit the Rams with a 27-2 run that stretched into the second half and produced a 35-14 lead.

Moore keyed that burst with three 3-pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play. Kate Fennelly knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during the run and Mary Kate Fennelly hit one. Assumption finished 8-for-17 from long range.

Glenwood never gave up and responded with 12 straight points to cut the lead to 37-28 on Newman's 3-pointer late in the third quarter. But Assumption scored seven of the first nine points in the fourth quarter to open a 46-30 lead, then sank free throws the rest of the way to finish it off.

Youngblut is a former Assumption star who took over after last season's coach, Hall of Fame player Jennifer Goetz, left to become the head coach at Pleasant Valley.