WILLMAR -- Sophomore post Kari Caspers poured in 30 points and the Ridgewater Lady Warriors debuted with an 81-49 victory over Central Lakes on Tuesday.
It was a personal scoring high for Caspers, a 6-footer from MACCRAY.
"My high game in high school was 16 and last year in college it was 16, too," she said. Caspers played volleyball for the Lady Warriors her first year out of high school, but not basketball.
Freshman post Kelsey Guetter, one of 11 players on the roster 5-foot-9 or taller, added 19 points and nine rebounds in her junior college debut. Alii Holt, a 5-10 wing, hit 6 of 12 shots from the floor for 12 points and 5-4 guard Whitley Strei added 10 points, including the team's only three-pointer.
"I really like this group (of players)," said Caspers, who also nabbed 10 rebounds. "We connected right away."
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With its short bench, the Brainerd college just couldn't match the Lady Warriors' pace, which helped produce 20 takeaways. The Raiders were without top player Stephanie Neugebauer (knee), who averaged 14 points per game last season.
Cassie Pearson led the visitors in scoring 16 points.
Ridgewater has a tougher mission on Sunday playing against Northern State JV at Aberdeen, S.D.
Ridgewater 81, Central Lakes 49
Central Lakes (0-1) 19 30 -- 49
Ridgewater (1-0) 40 41 -- 81
CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE - 17-60 FG (5-11 3-pt); 10-15 FT; 41 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Brittany Gravelle 8, Carissa Utsch 6, Alicia Johnson 8, Cassie Pearson 16, Carlee Davich 7, Trisha Wippler 4 ... 3-point shots: Gravelle 1, Johnson 2, Pearson 1, Davich 1 ... Rebound leaders: Davich 7, Pearson 5, Caitlin Kavanagh 5, Wippler 5 ... Assist leaders: Gravelle 1 ... Steal leaders: Pearson 5
RIDGEWATER COLLEGE - 34-82 FG (1-9 3-pt); 12-24 FT; 59 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Allii Holt 12, Chelsea Voorhees 8, Whitley Strei 10, Sara Beyer 2, Kari Caspers 30, Kelsey Guetter 19 ... 3-point shots: Strei 1 ... Rebound leaders: Caspers 10, Holt 7, Voorhees 5, Beyer 4, Guetter 9 ... Assist leaders: Bailey Carlson 2, Strei 4, Beyer 2, Laura Houghton 2, Caspers 2... Steal leaders: Carlson 2, Holt 3, Voorhees 6, Beyer 4 ... Blocked shots: Holt 2
