WILLMAR -- The shortest player on the court made the biggest shot of the game Tuesday for Willmar.
Mariel Aamot, listed at 5-4, converted a layup with just under two minutes left to put Willmar ahead for good as the Cardinals went on to rally past Little Falls 53-52 and move into a first-place tie in the Central Lakes Conference game.
Little Falls, who entered the game unbeaten in Central Lakes Conference play at 5-0, owned the lead for the majority of the game. The Flyers (5-1, 7-4) led by 10 points at one time in the first half as Willmar (5-1, 8-2) had trouble knocking down jumpers and converting shots down low.
But the Cardinals found a better rhythm offensively and took advantage of 14 Flyer turnovers in the second half to fight their way back.
Hannah Smith, who led Willmar with 14 points, made a three-pointer from the right wing with 5:58 left in the second half to tie the game at 38-38. The Flyers answered with a three-pointer of their own 30 seconds later and stayed in front until Alex Lippert grabbed an offensive rebound and made a layup with 3:23 left for Willmar.
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The lead then changed hands twice before Aamot put Willmar ahead for good with her basket.
Aamot was all alone under the basket when Kelsey Evans fired her a sharp pass.
Jena Thompson followed Smith with 12 points and Evans added 10 more. Thompson also hooked 11 rebounds to post a double-double.
Thompson and Smith also made two free throws each in the final minute to help seal the win. Emily Nelsen made one of two free-throw attempts with 17 seconds left to put Willmar up 53-50.
The Cardinals host CLC rival St. Cloud Apollo on Friday.
Willmar 53, Little Falls 52
Little Falls (5-1, 7-4) 25 27 -- 52
Willmar (5-1, 8-2) 21 32 -- 53
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LITTLE FALLS - 20-47 FG (1-4 3-pt); 11-18 FT; 39 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Danel Okerman 2, Paige Beseman 19, Megan Voss 4, Trisha Wippler 7, Whitney Weisz 11, Carlee Davich 3, Katie Hochstrung 6 ... 3-point shots: Wittler 1 ... Rebound leaders: Hochstrung 6, Weisz 13, Wippler 8 ... Assist leaders: Beseman 2, Wippler 2, Hochstrung 2 ... Steal leaders: Beseman 7, Wippler 3
WILLMAR - 18-62 FG (2-11 3-pt); 15-24 FT; 36 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Kelsey Evans 10, Mariel Aamot 8, Hannah Smith 14, Emily Nelsen 1, Alex Lippert 8, Jena Thompson 12 ... 3-point shots: Smith 2 ... Rebound leaders: Thompson 11, Lippert 6, Evans 6 ... Assist leaders: Thompson 5 ... Steal leaders: Evans 6, Smith 4, Aamot 3 ... Blocks: Lippert 4
