The sixth-ranked Blue Jays girls basketball team cruised by eighth-ranked CR courtesy of a 15-7 run in the third quarter and took care of its biggest rival 53-35.

Seaford had already beaten the Riders earlier this season in their only official conference meeting.

Sophomore forward Ashlee Burbage scored a game-high 17 points to give Seaford a needed lift after falling to St. Mark's on Saturday.

"This is our big rival," Seaford guard Ashley Dean said. "It was a game we knew we had to have."

This season, the Henlopen Conference scheduling format mandates only one meeting between division opponents. CR and Seaford scheduled each other twice, but because of the rules, only one meeting counted in the conference standings.

Seaford (13-4 overall, 10-0 Henlopen North) took the game that counts in the conference standings, 56-52 in overtime, back in December. Next season, Henlopen schools will play each other twice with each game counting in the conference standings.

"That was outstanding for us to show what we can do, especially playing on the road," Seaford coach Jim Wearden said. "This is our No. 1 rival, and to come here and play the way we did, it's a big statement for us."

Against Caesar Rodney (11-6, 10-1), Seaford came out strong in the second half. Trailing 16-15 at the half, the Blue Jays went on an 8-3 run to build a 23-19 lead.

Dean and Roniece Williams each scored 15 points for the Blue Jays and teammate Angie Owens scored 12.

In the first half, the Riders took early leads and seemed to have things under control. But the outside shooting from Seaford proved to be too much in the second half.

Brittany Shells scored a team-high 10 points for the Riders, who were outscored 23-12 in the fourth quarter. Jenna Aldridge added nine points and Micki Younger scored seven off the bench.

Reach Kristian Pope at 734-7946 or kpope@delawareonline.com.

Seaford 53, Caesar Rodney 35

SEAFORD - Hood 0 0-1 1, Tingle 1 0-0 3, Burbage 6 3-3 17, Williams 2 1-1 5, Dean 7 0-0 15, Owens 5 2-7 12. Totals 21 6-11 53.

CAESAR RODNEY - Reed 0 3-6 3, Miller 0 0-0 0, Aldridge 4 1-4 9, Shells 3 2-2 10, Millner 1 0-0 2, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Alexander 1 0-0 2, Younger 3 1-3 7. Totals 16 7-15 35.