By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls’ basketball team broke into the win column for the first time this season by defeating Southwest Christian 46-33 in Luverne Saturday.A strong fourth quarter by the Cardinals helped the hosts break open a close game against the E-Gals.With the score tied at 29 entering the final eight minutes of play, Maggie Kuhlman led a 17-4 scoring run by netting eight of her team-high 13 points to help the Cards even their season record.Luverne sported slim 12-11 and 19-17 leads at the first two quarter breaks before putting the contest away in the fourth quarter."It was close the whole way until we outscored them 17-4 in the fourth quarter," said Cardinal coach Phelps. "There were a couple of possessions when we forced them into turnovers and converted them into layups. Shooting five of six from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter also helped."Kuhlman led the winners with six assists and four steals in the game. Samantha Gacke and Danielle Loosbrock collected seven and six rebounds respectively. Mindy Nieuwboer and Marissa Stewart contributed four steals each to the winning cause.Luverne was scheduled to play in Lennox, S.D., Tuesday, but the game was postponed. The 1-1 Cards host Pipestone tonight and Worthington Tuesday.Box scoreNieuwboer 3 0 2-3 8, Snyder 2 0 0-0 4, Peterson 0 0 0-0 0, Kuhlman 2 2 3-4 13, Stewart 2 1 1-2 8, Gacke 1 0 0-1 2, Loosbrock 3 0 3-3 9, VanDeBerg 1 0 0-0 2.Team statisticsLuverne: 17 of 42 field goals (40 percent), nine of 13 free throws (69 percent), 25 rebounds, 25 turnovers.SWC: 13 of 42 field goals (30 percent), six of seven free throws (85 percent), 37 rebounds, 25 turnovers.
