Lady Bulldogs Defeat Roncalli

Milbank Area scored a 48-40 Northeast Conference girls basketball victory over the Aberdeen Roncalli Cavaliers January 12, on the road. The Lady Bulldogs upped their season record to 6-3 with the win.

Milbank Area trailed 11-9 at the end of the opening quarter, but came back to knot the score at 18-18 at the midway mark. After the halftime break, they took charge. Milbank Area fired in 17 points and held the Cavaliers to just seven points. They led 35-25 to start the last quarter and held on for the 48-40 victory.

“This was a great win on the road,” stated the Lady Bulldog’s head coach, Brian Pauli. “Roncalli has always been a difficult place to win. I’m really pleased with how the girls have been playing coming out of halftime. We talk about things, make adjustments, and they are doing a good job of executing.”

Caryssa Mielitz led Milbank Area with a double-double. She poured in 28 points, snared 10 rebounds, had 3 steals, 2 blocked shots, and 1 assist. Gabbi Cummins tallied 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot, and 1 assist. Molly Rick chipped in 5 points, 5 boards, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Mikaela Hoeke contributed 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 assist. Taylor Thue contributed 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Mackayla Schuelke and Karlee Mertens each had 1 rebound.

The Lady Bulldogs went 17-of-35 from the field for 49 percent shooting. Milbank Area secured the win with 31 rebounds, 14 steals, 7 assists, and 3 blocked shots. They committed 19 turnovers.

Roncalli hit 38 percent of its shots from the field, making 15 of 40 attempts. The Cavaliers finished the game with 18 rebounds, 19 steals, 1 blocked shot, and 7 assists. They committed 15 turnovers.

Milbank Area will be featured in the 2017 Sanford Pentagon Heritage Classic in Sioux Falls Saturday, January 14. The Lady Bulldogs face Lennox at 6:30 p.m.