Ridgewater nabs third

WILLMAR -- For the second straight year, the Ridgewater College women's basketball team won the MCCC third-place trophy on its home floor.

After getting outgunned by Rochester 79-65 on Saturday evening, the Lady Warriors crushed the Central Lakes Raiders 83-49 on Sunday afternoon.

It was a five-point game at halftime, but the tournament hosts finished with a flurry, scoring 54 points over the final 20 minutes.

"That's a good way to end it," beamed back-up post Bridget Boehlke, who was playing her last game. "I'm sad it's done. It's been a great two years here. I'm sad to leave."

Hilary Groothuis, the only other sophomore on the roster, had a game-high 23 points. She was named all-state prior to the tournament.

Ridgewater hit 10-of-22 three-point attempts. Emily Mathiowetz, who had 20 points, sank five treys. Tara Thielke had three 3-pointers among her 16 points.

Lisa Nielsen came up with seven points and 10 rebounds.

Becky Skiba's 14 points and eight rebounds paced the Raiders (9-20), who upset Riverland in the opening round before losing to Anoka-Ramsey in the semifinals.

Last year, Ridgewater beat Minnesota West in the third-place game.

Ridgewater 83, Central Lakes 49

Central Lakes (9-20).............24 25 -- 49

Ridgewater 19-9)...................29 54 -- 83

CENTRAL LAKES - 17-60 FG (3-12 3-pt); 12-14 FT; 40 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Brandi Cresap 3-9 2-2 8, Whitney Glazier 0-2 2-2 2, Cayla Collison 1-6 2-2 5, Stacey Butler 3-6 1-2 7, Brittany Miller 2-7 0-0 5, Jayme Reed 4-14 0-0 8, Becky Skiba 4-14 5-6 14... 3-point shots: Collison 1, Miller 1, Skiba 1 ... Rebound leaders: Skiba 8 ... Assist leaders: Butler 3 ... Steal leaders: Skiba 2, Butler 2

RIDGEWATER - 30-66 FG (10-22 3-pt); 13-19 FT; 44 rebounds; 11 fouls ... Scoring: Bridget Boehlke 2-7 1-2 5, Patina Queenan 0-1 0-0 0, Danielle Goeman 2-4 1-2 7, Tara Thielke 6-15 1-2 16, Brook Busack 0-0 0-0 0, Emily Mathiowetz 5-10 4-4 19, Hilary Groothuis 10-18 3-4 23, Britney Glisczinski 1-2 0-0 2, Lisa Chinander 1-3 2-2 4, Lisa Nielsen 3-6 1-3 7 ... 3-point shots: Goeman 2, Thielke 3, Mathiowetz 5 ... Rebound leaders: Boehlke 6, Thielke 9, Groothuis 6, Nielsen 10, Chinander 3 ... Assist leaders: Goeman 4, Thielke 8, Brook Busack 2, Mathiowetz 5, Groothuis 2 ... Steal leaders: Nielsen 3, Mathiowetz 3, Thielke 2, Goeman 2, Boehlke 2 ... Blocked shots: Boehlke 2, Thielke 2.

Semifinal Saturday

Rochester 79, Ridgewater 65

Rochester led 39-33 at half but Ridgewater turned the first 10 minutes of the second half into a ping-pong match with quick lead changes.

The Lady Warriors enjoyed their last lead at 48-47 on center Lisa Nielsen's third basket and eighth point of the rally.

Led by Anne Breland and Amanda Degnan -- both would finish with 23 points. Rochester began to pull away sparked by superior rebounding (50 to 32) and shooting (49 percent to 38 percent for Ridgewater).

It was 62-59 with 9:08 left when the Lady Warriors hit a dry spell that didn't end until the 3:30 mark when Danielle Goeman popped in a three-pointer that made it 77-62. Ridgewater made just two field goals over the last nine minutes.

Tara Thielke, whose three 3-pointers and 16 points carried Ridgewater the first half, sank a lay-up at the final buzzer for her 20 points.

Hilary Groothuis ended up with 19 points, while Nielsen finished with 12.

Rochester (25-3)...................39 40 -- 79

Ridgewater (18-9).................33 32 -- 65

ROCHESTER - 31-63 FG (6-14 3-pt); 11-15 FT; 50 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Kris Thompson 3-6 0-1 7, Erin Maurer 1-1 2-2 5, Kasie Heimer 6-15 0-1 13, Amanda Degnan 8-16 5-7 23, Anne Breland 11-17 0-0 23 , Kendra Heitkamp 1-23 4-4 6, Lisa Bicknese 1-3 0-0 2 ... 3-point shots: Thompson 1, Maurer 1, Heimer 1, Degnan 2, Breland 1 ... Rebound leaders: Degnan 11, Breland 10, Heimer 7 ... Assist leaders: Courtney Jones 7 ... Steal leaders: Streit 2, Thompson 2, Heimer 2 Degnan 2

RIDGEWATER - 26-68 FG (6-16 3-pt); 7-11 FT; 32 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Patina Queenan 2-5 2-2 7, Bridget Boehlke 0-1 0-0 0, Danielle Goeman 2-5 0-0 5, Tara Thielke 8-15 0-1 20, Emily Mathiowetz 1-7 0-0 2, Hilary Groothuis 8-19 3-6 19, Britney Glisczinski 0-2 0-0 0, Lisa Nielsen 5-14 2-2 12 ... 3-point shots: Queenan 1, Goeman 1, Thielke 4 ... Rebound leaders: Thielke 6, Groothuis 8, Nielsen 5 ... Assist leaders: Goeman 4, Mathiowetz 7, Groothuis 4 ... Steal leaders: Thielke 6, Goeman 2, Mathiowetz 2, Nielsen 2

Final Sunday

Rochester 63, Anoka-Ramsey 49

Rochester avenged a loss to the Golden Rams in the title game a year ago as Anne Breland scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Kasie Heimer added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Anoka-Ramsey was led by Sonja Ellingson with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Love Washington was nezxt for the Golden Rams with 11 and Amanda Reh added 10 points.

Anoka-Ramsey .....................23 26 -- 49

Rochester .............................27 36 -- 63