WILLMAR -- Three games into the new season, the Ridgewater women's basketball team is only half the team they will eventually be.
That was especially evident late in a 52-45 loss to the Gustavus Adolphus junior varsity Monday night at the college gym.
"We're out of shape," said coach Carrie Ogdahl of the home opener.
That became evident when Ridgewater's tank seemed to hit empty while leading 38-37 with seven minutes to play.
The young Gusties -- only eight deep -- outscored their hosts 15-7 the rest of the way. Back-to-back three-pointers by Michelle Anderson helped open a 46-38 bulge and the Lady Warriors never recovered.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ogdahl used her six-deep bench generously but that couldn't overcome the lack of practice time for four members of the squad who played on the school's national championship volleyball team.
Post Hilary Groothuis, wings Ashley Olson and Melissa Sterkel and guard Amy Ballard had only three days of practice since returning with the first-place trophy Nov. 18 from Rochester.
Yet, Groothuis and Sterkel led the team in scoring with 10 points each.
"We just haven't had time to work on much, but I'll take the defense we played tonight anytime," said Ogdahl. "We just need to score. We have to find a go-to person."
Point guard Kayla Karnes is the only starter back from last year's national qualifier. A solid three-point shooter in high school at New London-Spicer, she couldn't find the range in the fading minutes and finished with seven points.
Rachel Driscoll led the Gusties with 17 points; 6-3 Bayli Vandelonotte, a freshman out of Lakeview High at Cottonwood, plugged up Ridgewater's interior offense and finished with six points, all in the second half.
Six-foot post Krystle Prodoehl, another volleyball player, may be ready for this weekend's Friday-Saturday home stand. She sprained her ankle in practice four days before the national tournament, which she had to sit out.
Gustavus JV 52, Ridgetwater 45
ADVERTISEMENT
Gustavus JV 23 29 -- 52
Ridgewater (1-2) 25 20 -- 45
GUSTAVUS JV - 22 FG (4 3 pt); 4-7 FT; rebounds: not available; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Lisa Brown 4, Kirsten Thisius 6, Michelle Anderson 9, Amber Steffenhagen 3, Kristi Teigen 7, Rachel Driscoll 17, Bayli Vandelonotte 6 ... 3-point shots: Anderson 2, Steffenhagen 1, Teigen 1
RIDGEWATER - 14 FG (2 3 pt); 15-24 FT; not available; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 7, Amy Ballard 4, Kristen Hegna 3, Ashley Lieser 2, Ashley Olson 3, Melissa Sterkel 10, Hilary Groothuis 10, Karen Christopher 2, Katie Meyer 4 ... 3-point shots: Karnes 1, Hegna 1 ... Rebound leader: not available ... Assist leader: not available ... Steal leader: not available
