Rochester Century outscored Rochester Mayo by a 2-to-1 margin at the free throw line and the Panthers won 54-51 in a Big Nine Conference girls basketball game Friday night at the Mayo gym.
Century built a six-point lead by halftime and held off Mayo in the second half. The Panthers finished with an important 16-8 scoring edge at the line.
"Our free throws have been our crutch all year," said Mayo coach Angie Meister. "Down the stretch and the second time around in our conference they are mandatory to win."
Century swept the regular-season series against Mayo with its second close win. The Panther won 48-44 in mid-December at Century.
The result left both teams with 8-4 conference records and tied for second in the conference behind unbeaten Owatonna. Century is 10-9 overall, and Mayo is 9-10.
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Meister credited Century's pressure defense on top of the key with making things difficult for Mayo's offense. Mayo also had foul trouble in the first half and had three starters on the bench at one time.
Lizzie Stenhaug scored 12 points and Katy Scherer 11 to pace Century's typically balanced attack. Rachael Doll powered Mayo with 18 points and seven rebounds, and played a "tremendous" game according to Meister.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday. Century is home against Albert Lea, and Mayo travels to Winona.
CENTURY 54, MAYO 51
CENTURY (54)
Taylor Wells 3, Katy Scherer 11, Lizzie Stenhaug 12, Maggie Pumper 3, Jessica Grev 2, Mishawna Lindsey 6, Heather Tally 3, Jessica Hazelton 6, Mallory Cochran 8.
MAYO (51)
Brittany Sorgenfrie 2, Sarah Bohlen 12, Ali Moat 6, Anna Ryan 3, Rachael Doll 18, Lauren Ulsh 10.
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Other stats:Doll 7 rebounds, 5 steals; Bohlen 5 steals.
Halftime: CENT 26, MAYO 20.
Free throws: CENT 16-23, MAYO 8-22.
Three-point goals: CENT 4 (Lindsey 2, Sherer 1, Pumper 1), MAYO 3 (Moat 2, Bohlen 1).
LOURDES 45, BYRON 41
Cold shooting nearly costs Eagles
BYRON — Rochester Lourdes survived its coldest shooting night of the season and escaped Byron with a narrow HVL Conference win on Friday night.
The Eagles made just 18 of 61 shots for a season-low 29 percent, but it wasn't so costly because Byron shot just 27 percent.
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Lourdes remained unbeaten in the HVL Gold at 8-0 and improved to 18-2 overall. Byron is in the HVL Gold basement at 1-7, and 7-13 overall.
Lourdes built an 11-point lead by halftime and maintained it, although Byron made things interesting in the second half.
"They came back as we kept missing shots and making mental errors," Lourdes coach Myron Glass said. "Our girls were our of sync tonight."
Senior center Laura Melquist starred for Lourdes with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots. Courtney Kasten led the Bears with nine points.
Lourdes has a big week next week, at home against Kasson-Mantorville on Tuesday, and home against Winona Cotter on Friday.
LOURDES (45)
Stephanie Helt 5, Olivia Muyres 3, Aubrey Neumann 6, Jessie Wilcken 2, Casey Huber 4, Shelby Hanssen 5, Laura Melquist 20.
Other stats:Melquist 11 rebounds, Hanssen 6 reboundsHelt 8 reboundsAssists Helt 5Steals Helt 5Melquist 5 blocks
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BYRON (41)
Sam Toft 7, Britta Schubert 0, Becky Murry 8, Berit Wallevand 4, Cortney Kasten 9, Kaytlin Remold 5, Erika Mcroberts 8.
Halftime: LOU 31, BYR 20.
Free throws: LOU 4-9, BYR 13-24.
Three-point goals: LOU 5 (Newman 2, Muyres 1, Melquist 2), BYR 2 (Murry 1, Mcroberts 1).
