An obvious difference at the free-throw line left Lyle/Pacelli's girls' basketball team trailing Grand Meadow at the final buzzer of Tuesday's Southeast Conference clash at Pacelli High School.

The visiting Superlarks hit 13-21 attempts from the charity stripe, while host L/P was just 8-21 in a 49-42 Grand Meadow victory. Sarah Holm scored 13 points -- eight of which came from the free-throw line -- to lead all scorers, and her Superlarks to an SEC win.

"We battled until about midway through the fourth quarter," said L/P coach Craig Smith. "They're a great free-throw shooting team. Holm killed us from the line.

Holm was 8-11 at the stripe as Grand Meadow got to 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the SEC. Lyle/Pacelli had been hoping for a .500 record in league play but instead fell to 2-4 and 2-10 overall.

"We were on the other end of a close game," Smith said. "In the end it seemed like Grand Meadow picked it up when they needed to."

Sam Inglebret added 12 points for Grand Meadow, and Brynn Hanken chipped in eight.

Laura Christopherson led Lyle/Pacelli with 11 points, while Louise Mudra and Anna Hebrink tossed in eight apiece.

"I like games like this because we learn how to play close games and learn how to play basketball," Coach Smith said. "That's what these girls need.

"But we really needed this one."

Lyle/Pacelli hosts Lanesboro Thursday at Pacelli High and visits Spring Grove on Friday. L/P's opponents for the rest of this week are the top two teams in the SEC.

"We're getting to where we need to be," Smith said.

Grand Meadow got back into the win column for the first time since the season-opening victory over still-winless LeRoy-Ostrander. The Larks go to Lanesboro on Friday night.

Boxscore:

GRAND MEADOW (49) -- Kelli Petzel 5, Samantha Inglebret 12, Nikki Brogan 3, Sarah Holm 13, Brynn Hanken 8, Cassie Fay 4, Nickole Stier 5.

LYLE/PACELLI (42) -- Louise Mudra 8, Anna Hebrink 8, Kate Boisjolie 7, Lindsay Halbach 4, Kristina Hollerud 4, Laura Christopherson 11, Rebecca Mino 0, Karina Golberg 0, Chelsey Roberts 0.

G.Meadow1191019--49

Lyle/Pacelli138714--42