Lyle-Pacelli girls dominate the paint in fourth straight win
Published 10:22 pm Friday, December 8, 2017
- Lyle-Pacelli’s Lucy Nelson dribbles past Alden-Conger’s Abbie Theusch in Pacelli Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Lyle-Pacelli center and Minnesota State University commit Kristi Fett isn’t about to let her senior year go to waste. Fett surpassed the 20-point mark for the third time in four games as the No. 1 ranked Athletics stormed past Alden-Conger (0-4 overall) 84-39 in Pacelli Friday night.
Fett racked up 22 points as she grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots for the Athletics (4-0 overall).
Lyle-Pacelli’s Brooke Walter attempts a steal agaisnt Alden-Conger’s Erika Bute in Pacelli Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“We’re hungry this year. We want to go to state,” Fett said. “We’ve got a target on our back and we know we’ve got to work hard to get there.”
LP head coach Justin Morris said he’s seen some serious growth on the court for Fett.
“Kristi’s a significantly better player this year than she was last year at this time,” Morris said. “She’s more physical, she holds her position better and she’s been more aggressive. She’s turned into a bonafide dominant post player and she’s tough to match up with.”
LP used an early 19-0 run to go up 24-3 on the Knights, but AC was able to get back within 37-21 with 1:40 left in the first half. LP answered that run with a big second half surge to put the game away.
“We had a 10-day layoff and I think that showed a little bit,” Morris said. “We were a little rusty. But offensively we moved the ball well.”
Lyle-Pacelli’s Abby Bollingberg handles the ball against Alden-Conger’s Erika Bute in Pacelli Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
LP had strong balance in Friday’s win as Olivia Christianson had 19 points and five rebounds, Abby Bollingberg had 16 points, four rebounds and five steals and Brooke Walter had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Bollingberg said that the combo of Fett and Christianson in the paint makes things much easier for LP.
“We get a ton from them,” Bollingberg said. “It’s really nice knowing that if you’re shot isn’t going, Kristi is always down there to pass the ball to or she can rebound and Olivia is flying through the paint getting every single rebound.”
AC 21 18 — 39
LP 41 43 — 84
LP scoring: Kristi Fett, 22; Olivia Christianson, 19; Abby Bollingberg, 16; Brooke Walter, 15; Kayla Christopherson, 4; Lucy Nelson, 4; Kendal Truckenmiller, 2; Samantha Hinz, 2; free throws: 64 percent (7-for-11); rebounds: 34 (Feet, 10); turnovers: 18
Lyle-Pacelli’s Kristi Fett pulls up for a jump shot against Alden-Conger in Pacelli Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com