WILLMAR -- The Lady Warriors punched in late for work, but once they put their work gloves on, they produced in Ridgewater's 60-49 win over visiting Riverland at the college gym on Wednesday.
Down 14-2 nine minutes into the first half, the Lady Warriors dialed up the intensity. Ashley Olson got nine of her team-high 14 points in the next 11 minutes and Melissa Sterkel pitched in seven of her 13 as the Lady Warriors pulled to within four, 29-25 at halftime.
With the Blue Devils' quick little guard Tibisha Thor in foul trouble, Ridgewater sent on a 10-2 run to start the second half and never let off the gas.
"That was one of our better games," said Olson. "We used our heads and hustled more. Our bench was deeper."
Anna Havumaki, Riverland's 6-2 center, led all scores with 19 points. Thor finished with eight points and seven steals with all but one steal coming before halftime.
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Sterkel pulled in 15 of her team's 52 rebounds. Hilary Groothuis ended up with 13 points and nine rebounds and Kayla Karnes had seven points and six assists. Krystal Prodoehl supplied six points off the bench.
Ridgewater 60, Riverland 49
Riverland (0-3, 1-14).................................29 20 -- 49
Ridgewater (2-1, 8-6).................................25 35 -- 60
RIVERLAND - 22-58 FG (2-7 3-pt); 3-7 FT; 39 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Tibisa Thor 8, Tracee Crowley 6, Nicki Lehnertz 7, Heather Manahan 2, Kim Bestul 5, Cassie Davis 2, Anna Havumaki 19 ... 3-point shots: Lehnertz 2 ... Rebound leaders: Havumaki 8, Thor 8, Lehnertz 7 ... Assist leader: Laura Amundson 3 ... Steal leader: Thor 7
RIDGEWATER - 27-72 FG (1-8 3-pt); 5-14 FT; 52 rebounds; 7 fouls ... Scoring: Kayhla Karntes 7, Amy Ballard 2, Ashley Olson 14, Melissa Sterkel 13, Hilary Groothuis 13, Karen Christopher 2, Kristen Hegna 3, Krystal Prodoehl 6 ... 3-point shots: Hegna 1 ... Rebound leaders: Sterkel 15, Groothuis 9, Karnes 6, Olson 6, Christopher 5 ... Assist leader: Karnes 6 ... Steal leader: Amy Ballard 4....Blocks: Groothuis 4
