WILLMAR - A big second half and 30 points from Courtney Magnuson propelled the Willmar Cardinals to a 66-54 victory over St. Cloud Tech on Friday in a Central Lakes Conference game.
The Cardinals finish the regular season with a 9-7 conference record and 11-15 overall. They will open the Section 3AAA tournament on Tuesday with seeding to be decided.
Magnuson shot 46.7 percent from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 77.8 percent from the line, while grabbing seven rebounds and seven assists.
Lexi Orlowski added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Cayle Hovland picked up eight points, six rebounds and two steals.
“Courtney was unstoppable tonight, mostly because of her incredible passes to start the game,” Willmar head coach Dustin Carlson said. “I thought Lexi really dominated the boards, which was huge to get second-chance points against a quality team like Tech.”
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The Cardinals, who led by four at the half, widened the gap with a 39-point second half.
They shot 22-for-47 (46.8 percent) from the field and were 3-for-10 from the 3-point line, while out-rebounding Tech 33-25.
Jill Kedrowski led Tech with 18 points, with Sam Boettcher scoring 15 and Kalen Brown 12.
“Our effort tonight was right on point,” Carlson said. “Just what you are looking for rolling into the playoffs. We were so much improved from the first time we played Tech. It was a playoff-like battle from start to finish.”
Willmar 66, St. Cloud Tech 54
SCT (10-6, 12-14) 23 31 - 54
Willmar (9-7, 11-15) 27 39 - 66
St. Cloud Tech
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17-54 FG; 16-21 FT; 25 fouls … Scoring: Lizzy Krippner 8, Georgina Simon 1, Jill Kedrowski 18, Kalen Brown 12, Sam Boettcher 15 … 3-point shots: Krippner 1, Boettcher 3 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a
Willmar
22-47 FG; 19-28 FT; 20 fouls … Scoring: Courtney Magnuson 30, Ingrid Figenskau 1, Sarah Smith 2, Cayle Hovland 8, Alycia Holwerda 2, Sydney Fischer 2, Lexi Orlowski 17, Kaitlynn Kienholz 4 … 3-point shots: Magnuson 2, Hovland 1 … Rebound leaders: Orlowski 7, Magnuson 7, Hovland 6 … Assist leaders: Magnuson 7 … Steal leaders: Hovland 2
