ALBERT LEA – The Austin High School girls basketball team blazed the nets for 26 points in the third quarter to carve out a 59-46 victory Tuesday over host Albert Lea.

Friday, January 26, 2001

ALBERT LEA – The Austin High School girls basketball team blazed the nets for 26 points in the third quarter to carve out a 59-46 victory Tuesday over host Albert Lea.

Until the decisive third period, the two Big Nine teams were locked in a 23-22 tussle by halftime. The third quarter changed all that.

"The key for us was running the ball in the third quarter," said AHS head coach Jim Leichtnam. "We controlled the boards and opened up things a little bit. I thought (Stephanie) Eslinger was a key for us with the way she controlled the boards."

Offensively, freshman Lisa Bue and sophomore Amy Kelly were the beneficiary of the Packers’ hustle with 10 and seven points, respectively, in the quarter.

AHS unveiled a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring seven or more points. Bridget Burzinski led the way with 14 points, followed by Bue with 12 points. Eslinger scored 10 points, Kelly nine, Stacy Fisher seven and Jenna Cummins five.

Sickles scored a game-high 23 points for Albert Lea.

The Packers host Rochester Mayo on Friday.