After regrouping at halftime, the Austin girls basketball team turned a close game into a 65-50 victory over Winona in Ove Berven Gym Friday.

After the Winhawks (4-6 Big Nine) closed the first half on an 8-2 run to tie things up at 25, the Packers (12-5 overall, 8-3 Big Nine) mounted a 16-2 run early in the second half to take the lead for good.

Krista Viehauser, who finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks, scored 10 points during that run — with two of those scores coming on put-backs.

“We put (Krista) inside and we put Tina on the baseline and she was able to get to the boards,” Austin head coach Gary Peterson said. “You could just sense we were playing with a little more effort in the second half.”

Winona quickly responded by scoring seven straight to make it 46-38 with 7:40 left in the game, but Viehauser scored inside and Hanna Middlebrook hit a pull-up three to make it 51-38 with 6:50 left.

“It felt good and they got me the ball. It’s nice when they go in, especially to get the momentum going,” said Middlebrook, who finished with nine points and five assists.

The Winhawks never really threatened the rest of the way as the Packer defense made it’s mark. Middlebrook, a senior guard, said the Packers are much tougher when their defense is going.

“It’s incomparable. If we’re not playing well on defense, we’re not getting the boards and then we can’t get the tempo going and get on the fast break, which is what we thrive on,” she said.

One problem Austin has had this season is maintaining that intensity. There were times on Friday where the Packers looked unstoppable and other times were they struggled, as they finished with 21 turnovers.

“Our issue all season long (has been consistency),” Middlebrook said. “It’ll come in time, it’s getting better each game. We just have to learn to forget about the turnovers, remember every possession’s a new possession and we really just need to make the next possession a better one.”

Austin got some big energy from senior guard Jolene Brody, who had four rebounds and got to a few loose balls.

“I think Jolene’s given us a spark off the bench,” Peterson said. “She’s kind of taken on a role of a defensive specialist. She goes out there and just hounds their best player and tires them out and makes them work.”

Winona took an 8-4 lead to open the game, but the Packers responded with an 8-0 run that saw Middlebrook and Kathryn Gavin each hit three-pointers. Austin never trailed from that point on.

Winona 25 25 — 50

Austin 25 40 — 65

Austin scoring: Tina Vorphal, 19; Krista Viehauser, 19; Kathryn Gavin, 9; Hanna Middlebrook, 9; Rebekah Aase, 7; Jolene Brody, 2; field goals: 36 percent (24-for-67); three-pointers: 27 percent (4-for-15); free throws: 68 percent (13-for-19); rebounds: 35 (Viehauser, 10); turnovers: 21

Winona scoring: Megan Lueck, 13; Hannah Norman, 12; Shauna Mahoney, 6; Courtney Meier, 6; Brittany Gotzinger, 5; Kasi Johnson, 3; Callie Glenna, 2; Leah McConkey, 2; Allison Martin, 1; field goals: 29 percent (18-for-63); three-pointers: 10 percent (1-for-10); free throws: 62 percent (13-for-21); rebounds: 36 (Meier, 10); turnovers: 21