WILLMAR -- Hilary Groothuis scored 26 points, but it wasn't enough to offset 32 turnovers by the Ridgewater Lady Warriors, who lost the Southern Division opener to Riverland College 63-57 on Wednesday night.
"That's a game we should have won," said Ridgewater coach Carrie Ogdahl. "It hurts because you really need to win these home games."
The Blue Devils, also prone to turnovers (23 total) are off to a 13-1 start.
Riverland got 25 points and 13 rebounds from 6-2 post Brooke Monson, one of five freshmen on the team out of Austin High School.
Ridgewater played its best basketball in the first half to lead 32-27 at the break. As the Lady Warriors made one miscue after another, the Blue Devils edged ahead 53-44. But Ridgewater rallied and three straight baskets by Groothuis tied it 53-all at 3:50. But post Lisa Nelsen's basket to tie it 55-55 was the only points for Ridgewater the rest of the way.
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"We were sort of out of control," said Groothuis, who also had 11 rebounds. "If we played in control, we could have beat them by 20."
Riverland might argue they were loose with the ball, too, and can play better.
Anna Hebrink, daughter of head coach Suzy Hebrink, added 16 points for Riverland.
Danielle Goman made 10 points for Ridgwater, while Tara Thielke supplied eight points and eight steals.
Riverland 63, Ridgewater 57
Riverland (1-0, 13-1) 27 36 -- 63
Ridgewater (0-1, 10-4) 32 25 -- 57
RIVERLAND COLLEGE - 22-67 FG (3-12 3-pt); 16-21 FT; 42 rebounds; 17 fouls ... Scoring: Holly Waltz 0-2 0-0 0, Tracee Crowley 2-6 0-0 4, Ali Mackey 1-6 1-2 4, Ashlegh Lau 0-3 0-0 0, Becca Swalla 4-15 4-6 12, Brooke Monson 10-19 4-5 25, Lizzie Gunter 1-4 0-0 2, Anna Hebrink 4-12 7-8 16 ... 3-point shots: Mackey 1, Monson 1, Hebrink 1 ... Rebound leaders: Monson 13... Assist leaders: Swalla 4 ... Steal leaders: Swalla 4
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RIDGEWATER - 23-65 FG (2-15 3-pt); 9-12 FT; 51 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Bridget Boehlke 0-2 1-2 1, Patina Queenan 0-4 0-0 0, Danielle Goeman 3-6 4-4 10, Tara Thielke 3-10 0-0 8, Brook Busack 0-2 0-0 0, Hilary Groothuis 11-21 4-5 26, Brittney Glisczinski 1-2 0-1 2, Lisa Neilsen 3-9 0-0 6 ... 3-point shots: Thielke 2 ... Rebound leaders: Groothuis 11, Nielsen 9, Thielke 7, Goeman 6, Queenan 5 ... Assist leaders: Goeman 3, Thielke 2, Groothuis 2 ... Steal leaders: Thielke 8 ... Blocked shots: Groothuis 2
