SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central held the Class AA’s top-rated girls’ basketball team to 22 points below its season average, but it wasn’t near enough Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles fell to Sioux Falls Washington 54-27 in non-conference play as the hosts limited Central to just seven second-half points to pull away from an 11-point halftime advantage.

“Washington is a great team when they get going in transition and get to the boards,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo. “They average 76 points a game. We defended well, but needed to be better on the boards. Abby Berry, one of our top rebounders, was out and we missed her on the boards.”

Central lost the rebounding battle 41-30 in the contest.

The game was tight with SFW leading just 15-12 in the second period before the Warriors steadily pulled away.

The Eagles once again had a difficult time scoring, managing just nine baskets.

“We’re getting great looks within our offense,” Arechigo said. “We’re not shooting well and we need to either be knocking those down or getting second-chance opportunities.”

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda topped Washington (5-0) with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Anna Malchow led the Eagles with seven points. Kiana Mounga contributed six points and eight rebounds.

Central, 1-6 on the season, hosts Sioux Falls Lincoln at 3 p.m. Saturday at Golden Eagles Arena.

“We still have pieces coming back from injury and illness,” Arechigo said, “and hopefully we get more consistency in our lineups in the next few weeks.”

ABERDEEN CENTRAL (1-6): Anna Malchow 2 2-2 7, Krya Griese 1 1-2 4, Karly Wellman 2 0-0 4, Kiana Mounga 2 2-2 6, Ayrlie Waldo 1 1-2 3, Taryn Hermansen 1 1-3 3. Totals 9-46 7-11 27.

SIOUX FALLS WASHINGTON (5-0): Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda 6 2-2 15, Alexus Motley 4 1-2 9, Hannah Harpe 1 0-0 2, Brooklyn Harpe 2 0-0 4, Taylor Thompson 1 1-2 3, Bianca Meeks 1 0-0 3, Claire Woods 3 0-0 6, Kelsey Severson 2 0-0 6, Grace Peterson 3 0-0 6. Totals 23-55 4-6 54.

Aberdeen Central 10 20 24 27

Sioux Falls Washington 12 31 42 54

3-point field goals – Malchow, Griese; Mwenentanda, Meeks, Severson 2. Total fouls – Aberdeen Central 8; Sioux Falls Washington 14. Rebounds – Aberdeen Central 30 (Mounga 8); Sioux Falls Washington 41 (Mwenentanda 9). Turnovers – Aberdeen Central 18; Sioux Falls Washington 11. Assists – Aberdeen Central 6 (Griese 3); Sioux Falls Washington 10 (Mwenentanda 3). Block shots – Aberdeen Central 0; Sioux Falls Washington 8 (Mwenentanda 3). Steals – Aberdeen Central 6 (Malchow 2, Griese 2); Sioux Falls Washington 8 (Motley 3).