WILLMAR -- In the wake of Willmar's 47-26 win against Little Falls on Friday, junior guard Brin Hanson summed it up nicely: "We're on a roll."
It was the Cardinals' eighth straight win -- all against Central Lakes Conference foes -- and kept them in full pursuit of front-runner St. Cloud Tech, still a game up in the standings.
Willmar hosts another team on the move Monday when Litchfield (17-4) brings in a five-game win streak.
Katie Holmgren had the hot hand for Willmar against the Flyers. The 6-foot forward had 10 points by halftime when Willmar led 23-16. She finished with 16 points (six-for-six at the line), nine rebounds, five blocks, two assists and two steals.
Hanson's 11 points were her most since she scored 12 in the season opener at Alexandria.
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"We're working hard in practice, and having a lot of fun," said Hanson, who also made four steals. "It's just a rhythm we're in, and our defense is working really well."
Willmar's corner and half-court traps just wore out the nearly all-junior Flyers' line-up. The Cardinals outscored the visitors 24-10 the second half.
Senior center Laura Nielsen didn't have a point at halftime, but she occupied the Flyers' inside defense setting the wings and Holmgren free. Nielsen finished with six rebounds, five assists, three blocks, three steals and five points.
Six-foot Liz Schultz led the Flyers with seven points and five rebounds.
Willmar 47, Little Falls 26
Little Falls (7-8, 8-11) 16 10 -- 26
Willmar (13-2, 16-4) 23 24 -- 47
LITTLE FALLS - 11-36 FG (1-4 3 pt); 3-12 FT; 21 rebounds; 12 fouls ... Scoring: Izzy Anderson 2, Kendra Hilmerson 4, Staci Kallis 1, Elizabeth Schulz 7, Melissa Monnier 4, Megan Meyer 3, Kellee Seward 2 ... 3-point shots: Hilmerson ... Rebound leader: Schultz 5, Monnier 5, Kallis 3, Meyer 3, Dobmeier 3 ... Assist leader: Kallis 3 ... Steal leader: Schultz 2
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WILLMAR - 17-45 FG (3-16 3 pt); 10-12 FT; 28 rebounds; 11 fouls ... Scoring: Dana Guetter 2, Andrea Brown 3, Brin Hanson 11, Briana Goldschmidt 4, Katie Holmgren 16, Lisa Nielsen 2, Laura Nielsen 5, Whitney Arends 4 ... 3-point shots: Brown, Hanson 2 ... Rebound leader: Holmgren 9, Nielsen 9 ... Assist leader: Laura Nielsen 5, Lisa Nielsen 2, Hanson 2, Holmgren 2 ... Steal leader: Holmgren 2, Hanson 4, Guetter 2, Laura Nielsen 3 ... Blocks: Laura Nielsen 3, Holmgren 5
NEXT -- Willmar: Monday, home vs. Litchfield
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