WILLMAR -- Ridgewater forced several turnovers early in the second half Saturday and blew open a close game, defeating Rainy River 61-37 in women's junior college basketball.
Hilary Groothuis led the Lady Warriors with 12 points. Melissa Sterkel had eight of her 10 points in the second half as the Lady Warriors expanded a 26-19 halftime lead to a 24-point blowout. Sterkel had nine rebounds and Groothuis eight.
"I thought our defense looked good in the second half," said Ridgewater coach Carrie Ogdahl. "We still need to work on some things on offense, but we're getting there."
Kayla Karnes sparked the second-half surge. The sophomore from New London dished out three straight assists on crisp passes inside as the Lady Warriors went on a 12-2 run to start the second half.
Karnes finished with nine assists to go along with seven points and two steals. Ashley Olson had eight points and Bridget Boehlke seven.
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Rainy River was led by Jamie Exner with a game-high 19 points despite making only 6 of 20 shots from the field. She cashed 7 of 9 free throws.
Ridgewater 61, Rainy River 37
Rainy River...........................................19 18 -- 37
Ridgewater (3-3)......................................25 36 -- 61
RAINY RIVER - 13-59 FG (0-16 3-pt); 11-18 FT; 48 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Georgetta Washington 2-8 0-0 4, Rena Harrington 0-4 0-0 0, Randi Reyes 1-5 0-0 2, Denise Lillibridge 0-7 1-2 1, Michelle Cheney 3-11 3-6 9, Jamie Janshen 1-3 0-1 2, Jamie Exner 6-20 7-9 19 ... 3-point shots: Lillibridge 0-7, Harrington 0-4, Exner 0-4, Reyes 0-1 ... Rebound leaders: Cheney 16, Janshen 6, Exner 6 ... Assist leaders: Reyes 1, Desjardins 1 ... Steal leaders: Reyes 3, Washington 2, Harrington 2, Lillibridge 2
RIDGEWATER - 26-69 FG (2-14 3-pt); 7-14 FT; 47 rebounds; 19 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 3-9 0-0 7, Amy Ballard 1-4 0-0 2, Kristen Hegna 1-5 0-0 2, Ashley Olson 3-9 2-2 8, Bridget Boehlke 3-5 1-3 7, Melissa Sterkel 4-11 2-4 10, Hilary Groothuis 6-14 0-3 12, Karen Christopher 2-5 0-0 5, Hannah Tornquist 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Meyer 1-3 2-2 4, Krystle Prodoehl 2-3 0-0 4 ... 3-point shots: Christopher 1-2, Karnes 1-4, Olson 0-1, Ballard 0-3, Hegna 0-4 ... Rebound leaders: Sterkel 6, Groothuis 5, Olson 4 ... Assist leaders: Karnes 9, Christopher 4, Hegna 2, Boehlke 2 ... Steal leaders: Christopher 5, Olson 3, Karnes 2, Hegna 2
