There are many variables that contribute to winning and losing in basketball. For Chanhassen, free throws were the key variable in deciding its fate on Friday night against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
After a tight 33 minutes, the Storm (12-7, 9-3) were able to start pulling away near the end of the game. They led 54-45 with three minutes left. If the Storm could make their free throws, they’d get onto the team bus with an impressive road conference win.
The Storm went to the line five times over the final three minutes, and they shot a perfect 10-10 in those trips to close out the game.
Chanhassen relied on a strong second-half performance to leave Benilde-St. Margaret’s with a 64-53 victory on Friday night.
The Red Knights (15-5, 10-2) led 26-25 at halftime, as both teams struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive end. The Storm (12-7, 9-3) picked up the defensive intensity in the second half and used that to break away in the final five minutes. They forced 15 turnovers in the game, with Lauren Arnold, Madi Hicks and Lauren Seubert each getting two steals apiece. The offensive attack was led by Callin Hake, who finished with 18 points. Arnold, Hicks and Seubert all finished in the double digits in that department as well, as they combined to score 40 points.
The Red Knights got a stellar offensive performance from Kendall McGee, who finished with a double-double of 32 points and 11 rebounds. Sierre Lumpkin filled up the stat sheet as well, as she had six points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.
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