Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — Despite a rough night of shooting, the Minnesota Valley Lutheran girls’ basketball team forced more than enough West Lutheran turnovers on Thursday night to pick up a 56-36 nonconference win at the Martin Luther College Tip-Off Tournament at MLC.

The Chargers (5-1) shot 24.4% in the first half and ended the night shooting 28.2%, while the Warriors ended the night shooting 31.3%. That was about the only area West Lutheran had MVL beat in, though.

West Lutheran committed 34 turnovers compared to MVL’s 10, with the Chargers collecting 21 steals in the process.

Emma Nelson led the Chargers with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Maddie Pearson had 12 points, five rebounds and six steals. Also for MVL, Abby Nelson had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, while Abbie Riederer finished the night 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Megan Sherwood led the Warriors with 9 points and 10 rebounds, while Laura Ellis added 6 points.

MVL jumped out to a 10-0 lead after an Abby Nelson layup, forcing a Warriors timeout with 12:28 left in the opening half. Kaylee Hunter got another layup after the timeout to put MVL up 12 before Trinity Valleu made a free throw to put the Warriors on the board with 11:50 left in the half. Sherwood added West Lutheran’s first basket of the game with 5:14 left in the half.

MVL led 27-13 at the half.

Pearson knocked down a pair of 3s early in the second half before Emma Nelson sank a pair of free throws to put MVL up 35-15 with 13:28 left to play. An Emma Nelson bucket in the paint later on gave MVL its largest lead of the night at 24, 48-24.

The Chargers will look to clean things up more offensively when they continue their time in the MLC Tip-Off Tournament at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at MLC.

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