Northwestern used a second-quarter surge to pull away from Aberdeen Christian for a 47-33 Lake Region Conference girls’ basketball win at the Aberdeen Civic Arena on Thursday night.

The 11-5 surge came after a close opening quarter, which saw Northwestern grab a 14-11 advantage. The Wildcats used the post play of Adriana Ratigan, as well as lay-ups and second- chance baskets to take the lead.

Ratigan said getting the ball in the post was part of the gameplan.

“That’s a big chunk of our gameplan, especially when we have the height advantage,” Ratigan said. “Just feed it in early and then when they decide to double team, then I just take up two people so that everybody else can just be out and shoot.”

Despite an early deficit, Knights coach Cristian Martinez was pleased with how his team started.

“That was a great start for both teams,” Martinez said. “We moved the ball pretty good and we tried to match up on defense. It’s just kind of the good start you want to see.”

However, throughout the much of the contest, the Knights had trouble matching up with the 6-foot-2 Ratigan, who finished with 13 points, while providing an anchor below the basket on defense.

“So basically, I just try to get in front of them,” Ratigan said of her defensive approach. “But obviously that’s not always the case if their gameplan is to stay in front. So, as long as I keep them in front and I can feel whoever is behind me, then that’s normally how I roll.”

Aberdeen Christian senior Chloe Bosma was tasked with guarding Ratigan when the Knights were on defense, and noted it was a tough task.

“Well, in man it was very difficult,” Bosma said. “It’s extremely hard trying to front and back her, because that’s what you’ve got to do when you’re guarding a girl that size, and so I felt like our best bet in guarding her is going in a 2-3 zone.”

In the second quarter, the Wildcats used an 8-0 run to go from a 15-14 deficit to a 22-15 lead, with Ratigan providing five points in the run. Martinez said there was one major factor for the Knights that allowed Northwestern to go on the run.

“I think some of the big problem was miscommunication on defense,” Martinez said.

Northwestern freshman Tara Blachford said the run gave the team a spark of momentum that it needed going into the remainder of the contest.

“We kind of got just in a really good mood,” Blachford said. “I think it made us all get up in spirit and kept going. It made us go even further in the game, and it really pushed us and built up our momentum for the game, which is really good. We really needed that for the game.”

Coming out of the locker room in the second half with a 25-16 deficit, Aberdeen Christian scored a trio of baskets early in the third quarter to pull to within 25-22; however, Northwestern closed the door on a Knights comeback with four consecutive baskets of its own, including a pair by Blachford to begin the run.

Blachford gave credit to her team’s defense for creating the opportunity to pull away in the second half.

“Since we figured out how to take them and we understand a little bit more of them, we kind of knew what they were doing,” Blachford said. “When they couldn’t do much, we just answered with scoring, so they just had nothing left to do, and it was just a whole team effort.”

When the Knights had opportunities to score and climb back in the game, the Wildcats closed the door and sealed the win.

“I think we started getting tired,” Bosma said of the Knights in the second half. “Once we get tired, we kind of get sloppy, so I think that was the difference.”

Blachford led Northwestern with 14 points, while Ashley Haven and Sophia Troske added nine and eight respectively to the total. The Wildcats (7-7) have now won three consecutive games and will host Waubay-Summit on Saturday. Ratigan says the string of wins gives the team momentum moving forward.

“We had a little patch where we lost some games, and now that we’ve won three in a row, I think that’s enough momentum,” Ratigan said. “We’re a young team, and I’m the oldest, so to keep us going, I just have to help us get that far.”

Aberdeen Christian (2-12) was led by Bosma with 12 points, while Chloe Holt had 10. The Knights travel to Herreid-Selby Area tonight. Martinez said the team must keep working as the team heads into the final stages of the season.

“Keep working; that’s the answer,” Martinez said. “We have to continue in practice. We have three more weeks. We’re still together in this.”

NORTHWESTERN (7-7): Tara Blachford 6 0-0 14 Josie Sparling 1 0-0 3, Ashley Haven 1-2 9, Sophia Troske 3 0-0 8, Adriana Ratigan 6 1-3 13. Totals 20 2-5 47.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (2-12): Jolie Fogarty 1 1-4 3, Bailey Hunstad 0 1-2 1, Sophia Fogarty 3 1-2 7, Chloe Holt 3 2-2 10, Chloe Bosma 5 0-5 12. Totals 12 5-15 33.

Northwestern 14 25 35 47

Aberdeen Christian 11 16 26 33

3-point field goals – Blachford (2), Troske (2), Sparling; Holt (2), Bosma (2). Total fouls – Northwestern 12; Aberdeen Christian 6. Rebounds – Northwestern 41 (Haven 10, Ratigan 10); Aberdeen Christian 25 (Holt 8, Payton Skarin 7). Turnovers – Northwestern 8; Aberdeen Christian 10. Assists – Northwestern 8 (Sparling 3); Aberdeen Christian 2. Blocked shots – Northwestern 4 (Haven 2, Ratigan 2); Aberdeen Christian 4 (Holt 2). Steals – Northwestern 4; Aberdeen Christian 3.