Rebounding and 3-point shooting have been an issue for the Central Lakes College Raiders all season.
The Raiders improved in both areas Friday night, but it wasn't enough as the Raiders (3-7) fell to Minnesota West (10-2) 83-64 In Friday's Winter Classic in Brainerd.
Cheyanne Johnson scored a game-high 29 points and the Raiders shot 45 percent from the arc. Brooke Miller finished with 12 points.
"Cheyanne had at least one 30-plus point game last year and when she get's going she can do that and hopefully it will get her going," said Raiders coach Randy Swanhorst. "We are trying to get the floor spread out and get some things in transition where they can't dig in against us."
CLC lost the rebounding battle. but kept the Blue Jays under their season average.
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"They lead the conference in rebounding with almost 50 a game and we held them about 20 away from that so we were happy about that," said Swanhorst.
A 3-pointer from Tanisha Beetso tied the game at 17 and the quarter finished with the Blue Jays leading 19-17.
In the second quarter, Minnesota West picked up its offensive pressure by attacking the basket, which resulted in CLC foul trouble. Kaitlin Spar picked up her third foul along with Beetso. Johnson kept CLC close and the Raiders trailed by two at halftime.
In the first half, Minnesota West went 0-7 from 3-point, but that changed in the second half. The Blue Jays sank seven 3s to stretch their lead to 58-47 at the end of the third quarter.
"The fouls did get us in trouble and we need to keep working on our conditioning as I thought we faltered at the end as well," said Swanhorst.
Minnesota West 36 47-83
Central Lakes 34 31-64
MINNESOTA WEST
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Taylor Noid 15, Emily Haubrich 11, Brenna Kramer 3, Tanner Gunnink 14, Andrea Hinkeldey 12, Brooklyn Barnett 2, Ashlynn Wabeke 10, Katherin Ihnen 16. FG 32-61 (53 percent), FT 12-16 (75 percent). 3-point 7-21 (33 percent).
CENTRAL LAKES
Cheyanne Johnson 29, Aleia Lupa 7, Alexus Caldwell, Kaitlin Spar 6, Taylor King 2, Amber Petermann 3, Tanisha Beetso 5, Brooke Miller 12. FG 23-56 (41 percent), FT 9-18 (50 percent). 3-point 9-20 (45 percent). Overall: 3-7. Next: vs. Dakota College 4 p.m. Saturday.
