Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Nicole Porter takes a shot during the first half of the Chargers game against Madelia Monday at MVL.

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran had four players score in double figures to help break a three-game losing streak and lead the Chargers past Madelia 72-45 on Monday in nonconference girls’ basketball action.

MVL’s Emma Nelson scored 17 points, Abbie Riederer and Maddie Pearson each added 12 points and Lauren Paulsen chipped in 10 points with seven rebounds and four blocks.

Lexi Fischer had 12 rebounds, Abby Nelson added eight rebounds and Kaylee Hunter had six steals for MVL.

CaleyAnn Clobes led Madelia with 17 points and six rebounds, while Lillian Maul had 10 points, three steals and three rebounds. Sylvia Rodriguez had 9 points and three rebounds and Alayna DeLaCruz added five rebounds for Madelia.

“We started to move the ball better [in the second half]. Madelia was quick to collapse on our players defensively, and our shots were not falling,” MVL head coach Rollin Timm said.

Timm said the Chargers made some adjustments at halftime, which included a full-court press, that eventually wore down the Blackhawks and led to MVL regaining the momentum, pulling away from the Blackhawks and winning the game.

“We continue to have a good half followed by a bad half. We got into foul trouble and MVL exploited our gaps,” Madelia head coach Shelby Wiederhoeft said.

Wiederhoeft credited the MVL full-court press with throwing off Madelia’s tempo. Consistency is something that continues to plague the Blackhawks.

Pearson started a 12-0 Charger run with a 3-point shot early in the second half. She followed that up with a basket and another 3-pointer. Paulsen and Abby Nelson also scored one basket each.

Later in the second half, MVL engineered a 13-0 run to ice the contest. Fischer hit a free throw, Hunter added three baskets and Pearson scored.

Clobes scored, was fouled and made a free throw to end the Blackhawk drought.

The first half was a tight contest. Maul’s basket tied it at 10-10. Fischer scored to regain MVL’s advantage.

Porter scored, was fouled and she made the free throw for a 15-10 MVL lead. Rodriguez answered with a hoop for Madelia. It would be as close to MVL as Madelia would get for the rest of the game.

Porter scored one basket, Hunter scored two baskets and Abby Nelson scored a second-chance basket to close out the first half, giving MVL a 36-21 halftime lead.

MVL (12-8) will host Springfield on Tuesday. Madelia (5-16) will play at United South Central on Tuesday.