WILLMAR -- Together at last.
Fortified by seven players off the national volleyball finalist, the Ridgewater Lady Warriors used a suddenly long bench to beat back Mesabi Range 75-62 on Friday in MCCC women's basketball.
Terra Billiet, a middle hitter turned post player in a week's time, delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs.
It was the first win for Ridgewater, which lost twice last weekend with a team cobbled together with five regulars and a couple of temps.
Mesabi, which came in 2-0, led at halftime 34-32 but couldn't stand up to Ridgewater's tenacious defense and rugged inside play.
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Jamie Munson and Sarah Primus each followed with 11 points. In all, 11 players scored.
Willmar took control starting in the sixth minute of the second half. Point guard Kayla Karnes' only field goal of the game vaulted the Lady Warriors into a 40-39 lead at 14:30. Billiet and Ashley Olso followed with fast-break baskets, then Heather Hammond followed with a basket for a 46-39 lead.
Elissa Holst, Sara Oliver and Ashley St. Arnold scored 12 each for the Norse.
Ridgewater 75, Mesabi 62
Mesabi Range (2-1)................34 28 -- 62
Ridgewater (1-2).....................32 43 -- 75
MESABI RANGE - 24-63x FG (6-17 3 pt); 8-17 FT; 41 rebounds; 24 fouls .... Scoring: Ellissa Holst 4-10 2-5 12, Karen McNeil 1-7 1-2 5, Sara Oliver 5-12 0-2 12, Breann Stottler 3-11 0-1 7, Laura Vake 2-7 1-2 5, Jenna Norman 2-3 1-1 5, Ashley St. Arnold 4-6 3-4 12, Liz Switzer 2-6 0-0 4 .... 3-point shots: Holst 2-3, Oliver 2-6, Stottler 1-3, St. Arnold 1-2 .... Rebound leader: Vake 8 .... Assist leader: Stottler 3 .... Steal leader: Holst 2
RIDGEWATER - 30-71 FG (1-11 3 pt); 14-32 FT; 54 rebounds; 17 fouls .... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 1-4 2-2 4, Hether Hammond 1-6 1-2 3, Jenny Cunningham 1-5 4-6 6, Tracy Rettman 0-1 1-2 1, Ashley Olson 2-5 1-2 5, Jamie Munson 5-14 1-4 11, Melissa Sterkel 2-2 2-5 6, Sarah Primus 5-5 1-2 11, Amy Ballard 3-6 1-2 8, Katie Johnson 2-8 0-0 4, Terra Billiet 8-15 0-5 16 ... 3-point shots: Ballard 1-2 .... Rebound leader: Cunningham 7, Sterkel 6, Munson 7, Karnes 6, Primus 5, Billiet 10, Primus 5 .... Assist leader: Munson 6, Cunningham 2, Rettman 2, Olson 2, Johnson 2 .... Steal leader: Karnes 2, Rettmann 2, Sterkel 2 ... Blocked shots: Cunningham 2
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NEXT -- Ridgewater: Today, home vs. Central Lakes, 5 p.m.
