Aberdeen Christian overcame a sluggish start with a strong finish on the way to a 55-33 girls’ basketball win over Northwestern Thursday night.

The fifth-rated Knights led by eight at the half before taking control in the third quarter.

“We had a rough first half offensively,” said Christian coach Michael Rohrbach, “but accomplished more of what we wanted to in the second half. Most of what we want to do is predicated on being disciplined and moving the ball.”

The Knights held Northwestern to just four points in the third period to open up a 17-point advantage.

Mallory Miller led Christian with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The junior scored seven points in the opening quarter when the Knights took a lead they never lost, then added six points in the third quarter and five more in the fourth to help keep her team out in front.

A trio of players – Kaylee Block, Hanna Miller and Grace Kaiser – contributed eight points apiece.

“We had pretty balanced scoring tonight which is needed in order to alleviate some of the pressure Mallory faces with the double teams.”

Faith Larson topped Northwestern with 12 points, all coming on four three-point field goals.

The Knights improved to 13-2 with the victory and remain unbeaten in Lake Region Conference play. Christian hosts Iroquois-Doland at 7:30 this evening at the Christian School in a game that was postponed from earlier this season. The squad then has another LRC contest on Tuesday at Ipswich in a girls-boys doubleheader.

NORTHWESTERN (4-10): Faith Larson 4 0-0 12, Ella Boekelheide 1 0-0 2, Jessica Boekelheide 1 0-2 2, Megan Nash 2 0-0 5, Teryn Sparling 1 0-0 3, Emma Grandpre 1 0-0 3, Adrianna Ratigan 2 2-4 6. Totals 12 2-6 33.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (13-2): Joy Rohrbach 2 0-0 4, Bailey Englund 1 0-2 2, Kaylee Block 3 0-0 8, Hanna Miller 3 2-4 8, Mallory Miller 7 3-5 18, Chloe Holt 2 0-0 5, Grace Kaiser 2 4-7 8, Chloe Bosma 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-18 55.

Northwestern 7 15 19 33

Aberdeen Christian 17 23 36 55

3-point field goals – Larson 4, Nash, Sparling, Grandpre; Block 2, M. Miller, Holt. Total fouls – Northwestern 15; Aberdeen Christian 9. Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 34 (M. Miller 12).