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NEW ULM — The New Ulm Eagles start season 1-0 with a win over Jackson County Central 72-64 on Thursday in a Big South Conference girls basketball game.

Brooklyn Lewis led the Eagles with 32 points, three assists, and eight steals, while Leah Brustad followed with 15 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Maggie Joyce added 10 points, along with two rebounds, two assists, four steals, and two blocks.

Lewis started the game off with a layup quickly answered by a jump shot from Huskies’ Zadi Farmer. The Eagles and Huskies were even through the start of the game with JCC taking the lead with a layup from Madelyn Rowe to bring the score to 8-7.

Photo by Brady Dennis New Ulm Maggie Joyce dribbles by a defender during a Big South Conference girls basketball game on Thursday against Jackson County Central at New Ulm High School.

The Huskies held the momentum until a layup from Brustad sparked the offense going on a 19-4 run to bring the score to 32-23 and to take the lead. JCC followed with 6 unanswered points and a buzzer-beating layup to end the half with a score of 32-29.

JCC tried to keep it going with an early jump-shot from Kinley VanDeVere bringing the game within 1 point. Lewis answered, scoring 5 with an and-one layup to bring the score to 37-31. A Huskies free-throw brought it back to one point at 37-32. A midrange jumper followed by two made free throws started a 15-0 Eagle run bringing the score to 53-39.

The two teams went back and forth until a Madisyn Wachal 3 brought the score within 8 points (58-50). With two minutes left, JCC’s Rowe scored a 3 followed by a Wachal layup to bring it to 70-64. That wasn’t enough, however with the Eagles scoring 2 points from free throws sealing the game at 72-64.

The Eagles start their season going 1-0 playing Tuesday, December 2 in Marshall, while JJC (0-1) play next Tuesday in Lake Crystal.