MANSON - A poor shooting night combined with a few too man turnovers didn't give the Estherville Lincoln Central girls basketball team much of a chance against Class 2A No. 2 Manson-Northwest Webster on Tuesday.

Senior post Mike Rodewald led her team with 19 points and 16 rebounds while fellow senior forward Lauren Christianson tossed in 18 points to lead the host Cougars.

Early in the game, ELC did get some easy baskets by breaking Manson's full-court pressure with Johnson scoring six of her team-leading 13 points in the first period.

While the Cougars were forced to take off the pressure, they still led 15-8 after one quarter.

ELC freshmen Sara Heywood and Emily Kirchner carried the load in the second quarter, accounting for all the team's points, but turnovers near the top of the Cougar zone defense led to easy baskets for the host as they took a 30-19 edge into half-time.

"We spent the last couple days, telling them they wouldn't be able to throw the ball over the top," said ELC coach Brad Leonard. "I don't think I saw more than five bounce passes."

ELC got within eight points twice in the third period after Johnson converted a 3-pointer play and both she and Casey Sievert made shots that had the Midgettes trailing 34-26.

The Cougar went to Rodewald who helped them push the lead back to 12, 40-28, to start the final frame.

ELC couldn't come up with the baskets in the final frame as MNW preserved the win.

"When we set up in our half-court defense, we were solid," said Leonard. "But we gave them too many transition baskets."

Emily Kirchner reached double digits with 11 points along with a team-high eight rebounds. Kelsie McCauley, who struggled to get her shot to fall in the first half, ended with six points. Heywood had five and Casey Sievert, Allie Sievert and Ashley Weston each had two points.

ELC was 19-of-30 from the free throw line.

ELC (1-1) opens the Lakes Conference schedule at home against LeMars next Tuesday.