MELLETTE – Northwestern allowed just nine second-half points to turn the tide against Aberdeen Christian Thursday night.

The Wildcats broke away from a tie game at halftime to record a 47-33 Lake Region Conference girls’ basketball victory.

The Knights bolted out to a 12-4 lead to start the contest as Sophia Fogarty scored seven points to key the surge.

The two squads battled to near even terms in the second quarter to set the stage for the pivotal second half.

Northwestern built a lead in the third period outscoring Christian 14-5. Ella Boekelheide scored five points and Adriana Ratigan had four for the Wildcats.

The host squad was then able to maintain its lead by allowing just four points in the final eight minutes to improve to 9-4 on the season.

“We had a really solid first half,” said Knights coach Cristian Martinez. “Our turnovers were low tonight, but in the second half we couldn’t make anything.”

Ella Haven led a balanced attack for the Wildcats with 15 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds, had three assists, two blocks and five steals.

Boekelheide finished with 10 points, and Ratigan contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Ashley Haven led Northwestern with 11 rebounds as the Wildcats grabbed 21 more rebounds than Christian in the contest.

Fogarty paced the Knights with 14 points. Chloe Holt added 10 points and a pair of steals, and Chloe Bosma finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

“Sophia Fogarty had a really good night. She ended with 14 points and battled with their big girl,” Martinez said. “Holt had three three-pointers.”

The Knights are off until Tuesday when they host Ipswich in another Lake Region Conference contest. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the Aberdeen Civic Arena with a boys’ game to follow.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (1-15): Chloe Holt 3 1-2 10, Sophia Fogarty 6 2-3 14, Chloe Bosma 3 3-5 9. Totals 12-48 6-10 33.

NORTHWESTERN (9-4): Ella Haven 7 1-5 15, Ashley Haven 2 0-0 5, Brooke Heim 1 0-0 3, Adriana Ratigan 3 2-4 8, Ella Boekelheide 3 2-2 10, Josie Sparling 2 0-0 6. Totals 18-64 5-11 47.

Aberdeen Christian 13 24 29 33

Northwestern 11 24 38 47

3-point field goals – Holt 3; A. Haven, Heim, Boekelheide 2, Sparling 2. Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 9; Northwestern 9. Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 22 (Bosma 9); Northwestern 43 (A. Haven 11, E. Haven 8, Ratigan 8). Turnovers – Aberdeen Christian 12; Northwestern 7. Assists – Northwestern 9 (E. Haven 3). Blocked shots – Northwestern 4 (E. Haven 2, Ratigan 2). Steals – Aberdeen Christian 3 (Holt 2); Northwestern 8 (E. Haven 5).