Kelly Pearson collected 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished six assists to lead the Central Lakes College Raiders to a 77-70 win over Ridgewater in their season opener on Wednesday night.
Mackenzie Holst and Marka Baker also hit double figures with 17 and 13 points while Kaitlyn Spar finished with nine and Cheyanne Johnson tallied eight in the Raiders win.
"Kelly was nine-for-nine from the free throw line. She is becoming a verbal leader and she is becoming empowered that this is my role," said head coach Cassie Carey of Pearson's play. "I told her that she doesn't have to say one word because she is playing at a level that is a lot over what she played last year and she kept her cool."
The Raiders were at their best in the third quarter as they continually broke the Warriors press for easy buckets on their way to scoring 27 points in the quarter to take a 62-43 lead to the fourth quarter.
Ridgewater did chip away at the lead in the fourth quarter but CLC responded with key baskets at key times including a three-ball from Pearson at the 1:48 mark that gave the Raiders a 75-66 lead to put the game on ice.
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"It was a lot of fun and I love transition basketball," said Carey. "Now that we have more kids that can play I am looking forward to more of an up and down style and that is a momentum grabber for the team."
Ridgewater 12 17 14 27 - 70
Central Lakes 12 23 27 15 - 77
CENTRAL LAKES
Cheyanne Johnson 8, Mackenzie Holst 17, Kaitlyn Spar 9, Kelly Pearson 28, Amber Petermann 2, Marka Baker 13.
FG 31-72 (43 percent), FT 11-14 (79 percent). 3-point 4-25 (16 percent). Overall: 1-0. Next: Leech Lake Tribal College at Central Lakes 1 p.m. Saturday.
RIDGEWATER
McKensie Petersen 2, Katelyn Durbin 8, Baylie Kubesh 16, Erica Melbie 28, Jacie Selseth 5
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Kaitlynn Kienholz 2. FG 20-65 (31 percent), FT 11-22 (50 percent). 3-point 10-28 (36 percent).
