Lyle/Pacelli Athletics girls basketball team falls to Houston 71-47 Friday evening

In a game you heard on AM 1480 KAUS, the Lyle/Pacelli Athletics girls basketball team played host to the Houston Hurricanes in a Southeast Conference matchup Friday night, and although the Athletics held a 3-point lead early in the second half, the Hurricanes were able to use their pressure defense to force turnovers that led to points offensively as they pulled away for a 71-47 win.

A 3-pointer from Lexi Lewis seconds into the game gave Lyle/Pacelli a 3-0 lead, and the Athletics held a 7-4 lead when the Hurricanes went on a 20-8 run to take a 24-15 lead.  Houston boosted their lead to 12 points at 29-17 when the Athletics closed the half on an 8-1 run to cut the Hurricanes lead to five at the halftime break at 30-25.  The comeback for LP continued to start the second half as the Athletics opened the half on an 8-3 run to take a 33-30 lead, but the Hurricanes used their full-court pressure defense to force turnovers that led to points offensivley, plus their height advantage in the frontcourt to score points off of offensive rebounds to go on a 22-7 run for a 50-38 lead with 8:06 to go, and their lead never dipped below 10 points the rest of the way.

Kirsten Koopal led Lyle/Pacelli offensively Friday evening with 21 points, Madeline Klankowski scored nine points, guard Jada Leif totaled six points, Lexi Lewis added five points, guard Elizabeth Fredrick chipped in four points, and 8th grade forward Grace Bauer tallied two points.

With the loss, the Athletics are now 0-10 in the Southeast Conference and 0-17 overall, and Lyle/Pacelli returns to action Monday night at home versus Wabasha-Kellogg in a non-conference matchup, with tip-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.