WILLMAR -- The Willmar girls basketball team shut down Moorhead in the second half, leading to a 65-55 non-conference win Saturday.
Hannah Smith scored 23 points for the Cardinals (8-0), leading three players in double figures.
Willmar focused its defensive attention on the Spuds' 6-foot-2 senior center Miki Stephenson, who will play for North Dakota State next season. Stephenson scored eight points in the first half, but was held to one field goal after the break.
"(Alex) Lippert did a good job of defending her and then we doubled down on her when she got the ball," said Willmar coach Brad Atchison.
Moorhead (4-5) had the hot hands from three-point range in the first half and sank six overall. Willmar shot well, also, and forged a 33-33 halftime tie.
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Kayli Gimse helped lead the second-half offensive charge with all 10 of her points.
Lippert scored 15 points, Jena Thompson had nine assists and six rebounds, and Jen Knake added seven boards and five assists.
"It was a good contest for us and a good win," Atchison said.
Hilary Enns paced the Spuds with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Alison Bruggeman added 12 points and Stephenson had 11 rebounds.
The Cardinals will travel to Alexandria Tuesday for a battle of unbeaten Central Lakes Conference teams. Alexandria is 4-0 (6-2 overall) and Willmar is 3-0.
Willmar 65, Moorhead 55
Willmar (8-0) 33 32 -- 65
Moorhead (4-5) 33 22 -- 55
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WILLMAR - 24-51 FG (3-11 3-pt); 14-19 FT; 30 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Mariel Aamot 6, Hannah Smith 23, Kayli Gimse 10, Jen Knake 5, Alex Lippert 15, Jena Thompson 6 ... 3-point shots: Aamot 1, Smith 1, Knake 1 ... Rebound leaders: Knake 7, Thompson 6 ... Assist leaders: Thompson 9, Knake 5 ... Steal leaders: Thompson 4, Gimse 3, Smith 3
MOORHEAD - 19-51 FG (6-16 3-pt); 11-19 FT; 26 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Hilary Enns 17, Ashley Kassenborg 8, Erica Henrickson 6, Kasey Steckler 2, Alison Bruggeman 12, Miki Stephenson 10 ... 3-point shots: Enns 4, Henrickson 2 ... Rebound leaders: Stephenson 11 ... Assist leaders: Enns 3 ... Steal leaders: Kassenborg 3
