AUSTIN — Rochester Mayo surrendered a halftime lead and Mer Gach had a big game for Austin as the Packers surged to a 51-42 win in a Big Nine Conference girls basketball game Tuesday night.
Gach, a 6-foot junior center, scored a game-high 17 points and led Austin to its second win in three games.
Mayo lost for the fourth time in its last five games to slip to 9-11 overall and 7-6 in conference. Austin is 6-11, 4-8 in the Big Nine. The Spartans relinquished a 25-21 halftime lead.
"Austin out-played us in the second half, as we contiue to struggle with taking care of the basketball," Mayo coach Rich Decker explained.
"Until our turnovers come down and our defensive effort improves we will continue to have problems finishing games."
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Sophomore center Anna Winter turned in another double-double for Mayo with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore forward Courtney Hruska added 11 points.
"Our margin of error remains very small, so any series of mistakes takes on a much greater significance for a team without a lot of size and experience," Decker said.
Mayo's next game is Friday at home against Mankato West, which beat the Spartans by five points a month ago in Mankato.
Austin 51, Mayo 42
MAYO (42)
Shelby Stewart 6, Olivia Korngable 8, Courtney Hruska 11, Anna Winter 15, Siennah Stamness 2, Hannah Larson 0.
Other stats:Stewart 4 Steals, 2 assists, O. Korngable 3 rebounds, 2 Steals, Larson 5 rebounds, Hruska 4 Rebounds; Winter 10 rebounds.
AUSTIN (51)
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Sydney Murphy 3, Shayley Vesel 15, Alex Hansen 2, Mer Gach 17, Meredith Fritz 6, Ruth Koang 8.
Halftime:MAYO 25, AUST 21.
Free throws:MAYO 12-17, AUST 5-8.
Three-point goals:MAYO 4 (O. Korngable 2, Hruska 2), AUST 2 (Vesel 1, Gach 1).
