SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central tossed out a valiant effort on short rest Saturday afternoon, but came up short late in the game, falling 68-51 to Sioux Falls Lincoln in Sioux Falls.

The Golden Eagles went on the road after hosting second-ranked Sioux Falls Washington less than 24 hours prior. Central was able to rebound well in the early portions of Saturday’s contest, taking a 33-32 lead into the halftime break.

But the breakdowns crept in in the second half, and the host Patriots were able to sneak out the victory.

“Offensively, we shot better (than Friday), so that was a bright spot,” said Central coach Mikayla Arechigo. “Unfortunately, fatigue and foul trouble really hurt us at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth. That led to some fundamental defensive breakdowns that are tough to overcome down the stretch.”

Taryn Hermansen led the way offensively for the Golden Eagles with 18 points and nine rebounds. Caydi Withers added 11, while Anna Malchow buried a pair of 3-pointers for six points.

Lincoln got a pair of 22-point performances from Kierra Lubovich and Mariah Siem. Addie Fawcett went 15-for-19 from the free throw line and finished with 17 points.

Central will return home Tuesday to host Watertown in an Eastern South Dakota Conference contest.

ABERDEEN CENTRAL: Anna Malchow 2 0-0 6, Taryn Hettich 1 0-0 4, Sydney Evans 0 5-6 5, Caydi Withers 4 2-2 11, Taryn Hermansen 7 4-6 18, Lauren Joosten 1 2-4 4, Kaylee Mohn 0 3-4 3. Totals 16-39 16-22 51.

SIOUX FALLS LINCOLN: Kierra Lubovich 6 10-11 22, Addie Fawcett 1 15-19 17, Mariah Siem 10 2-2 22, Ciara Velasquez 1 0-1 3, Madison Evans 2 0-0 4, Ashley Thuch 0 0-1 0. Totals 20-46 27-34 68.

Aberdeen Central 14 33 41 51

SF Lincoln 17 32 48 68

3-pt FG – AC 3-10 (Malchow 2, Withers); SFL 1-10 (Velasquez). Fouls – AC 26; SFL 21. Fouled out – AC, Evans. Rebounds – AC 26 (Hermansen 9); SFL 20 (Charity LeMier 3, Lubovich 4, Siem 4). Assists – AC 9 (Hettich 4); SFL 9 (Fawcett 3, Siem 3). Turnovers – AC 26; SFL 16. Steals – AC 6 (Joosten 4); SFL 9 (Siem 4).