WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Lady Jays run away, topple Vermilion

BRAINERD — In a tale of two halves, the Minnesota West Lady Jays turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 83-60 victory over Vermillion in the Central Lakes Classic on Saturday.

Tiffany Gehl scored 27 points and Brittney Hulstein made seven 3-pointers while finishing with 26 points to lead the Lady Jays’ second-half outburst.

“We had a good second half again after kind of a sluggish first half again,” Lady Jays head coach Mike Fury said. “The beginning of the second half was the difference in the game.

“Brittney (Hulstein) hit a couple of 3s and Tiffany (Gehl) got loose on the baseline and had two buckets and a couple of old-fashioned 3-point plays. That was the difference there to start the second half.”

Katey Granstra hauled in 18 rebounds to help the Lady Jays maintain a 50-40 off the glass. Granstra also blocked five shots and scored seven points, while Gehl completed a double-double with 10 boards.

Lindsey Drooger added 13 points for Minnesota West, while Mara Eichenberger dished out seven assists.

Vermillion was led by Mariah McDonald’s 19 points, while Teneisha Brooks added 17 points and Tyesha Wright scored 10.

Minnesota West improved to 9-4 overall with the win. The Lady Jays open their Minnesota Conference Athletic Conference schedule on Wednesday with a Southern Division clash with Minnesota State Fergus Falls.

“We’re at a good spot and we’re where we want to be entering league play,” Fury said. “We’ve had some good efforts in the non-conference portion of our schedule. We’ve learned how to play better and harder.

“Everyone’s even starting Wednesday and I like where we are at.”

Vermillion 36 24 — 60

Lady Jays 34 49 — 83

Tags: minnesota west sports, sports, basketball