Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Emma Nelson of Minnesota Valley Lutheran shoots the ball during the first half against Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Friday at MVL. Nelson surpassed 1,000 points for her high school career Friday.

NEW ULM — Madison Mathiowetz’s 3-point play with 1:10 left helped Sleepy Eye St. MaryŐs edge Minnesota Valley Lutheran 70-67 on Friday in Tomahawk Conference girls’ basketball action.

Mathiowetz went for a layup, missed and got her own rebound. She scored, was fouled and she hit the free throw.

“In that moment, that’s what you work for,” Mathiowetz said. “You get the ball, score, get fouled and make the free throw.” Madison finished with 41 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

MVL’s Emma Nelson scored her 1,000th point of her career with 10:56 remaining in the first half.

“I didn’t really know it, so I was surprised,” Nelson said. “I love my team and I couldn’t do anything without them.”

Abbie Riederer led the Chargers with 23 points and Nelson scored 21.

St. Mary’s took its first lead of the game with 16:44 left in the second half. Katelyn Rutscher hit a shot just inside the top of the key which made the score 37-36. Mathiowetz scored after Riederer scored for MVL to open the second half.

Mathiowetz scored two baskets on back-to-back fast-break layups. Reagan Severson completed the Knights’ run with a basket, making it 43-36.

Later, Mathiowetz canned a 3-pointer to give St. Mary’s a 48-38 advantage. Riederer answered with her own 3-pointer.

Riederer started MVL’s comeback when she scored on a fast-break layup. Emma Nelson hit two free throws to cut the Knights’ lead to 2 points. Emma Nelson was fouled on an in-bound pass play and she hit both free throws to tie it at 54-54 with 7:35 left.

Mathiowetz regained the Knights’ lead with two free throws. Sydney Windschitl scored a free throw for a 3-point St. Mary’s lead.

Emma Nelson scored, was fouled and she hit the free throw to tie it at 57-57. Mathiowetz and Sophie Portner each scored to regain the lead for the Knights.

Riederer’s fast-break layup tied it 61-61. Severson scored giving St. Mary’s a 63-61 advantage.

Emma Nelson’s 3-pointer gave MVL its final lead of the night at 64-63.

Abby Nelson’s 3-pointer brought MVL within 1 point of 68-67. Windschitl two two free throws to close out the game.

“We knew it was going to be a good game both ways,�” St. Mary’s head coach Bruce Woitas said. “We made some good defensive plays, and we got some big rebounds at the end.”

Woitas observed that the Knights could’ve done better in hitting free throws down the stretch to seal up the game sooner. He said it will be a big game for his team when it faces Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Monday.

“It was a tough loss,” MVL head coach Rollin Timm said. “I’m proud of the team, their energy and effort tonight. Two really good teams battled it out.”

MVL 16, 11-2 will travel to Glencoe-Silver Lake on Tuesday.