Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Abby Nelson (24) takes a shot over a Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial defender Friday at MVL.

NEW ULM — Lakesha Carter and Alexis Cloyd combined to score 51 first-half points to lead Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial past Minnesota Valley Lutheran 92-60 on Friday in a nonconference girls’ basketball contest. It was the season opener for both teams.

The Knights hit 11 of their first 14 shots and never looked back. MVL head coach Rollin Timm said the Chargers need to play better defense.

“They had some very hot shooting,” Timm said. “We did not recognize what they were doing and we did not adjust quickly enough.”

Cloyd scored a total of 34 points and Carter added 26 points. Katelin Flack had 12 points.

Abbie Riederer led MVL with 18 points and Emma Nelson scored 17 points. Maddie Pearson had six steals.

LCWM started out using a full-court press which led it to get transition baskets, create turnovers and that gave it confidence to execute its offense. The nights jumped out to an 11-1 lead.

Ella Schiei scored a basket, Riederer made three free throws and a 3-point shot and Abby Nelson dropped in two free throws to cut the LCWM lead to 21-16. That would be as close as the Chargers would get for the rest of the contest.

Cloyd answered for the Knights with a 3-point shot. LCWM stole the ball a few plays later which resulted in Cloyd scoring on a fast-break lay-up. LCWM continued to score and it held a 53-31 halftime advantage.

The Knights continued their success in the second half. They discontinued the press, but the basketball still found its way in the basketball. MVL tried its best to remain in the game.

MVL (0-1) will play at Wabasso on Dec. 3.