Linn won consolation last week at the Eugene tournament after defeating Belle 46-13.

“The Belle game was great,” said Coach Ryan Rost. “Offensively, we looked good, and we were able to score when we needed to, but our defense was great. Any time you can hold a team like that for an entire game, it says something. We are getting better each game, so I’m eager to see how we keep growing.”

The Lady Cats held Belle scoreless in the first and fourth quarters while giving up one point in the third. The only successful period was the second when Belle scored 12, but Linn countered with 13.

After a 28-12 halftime lead, the Lady Cats cruised the rest of the way, capping the game with an 11-0 fourth quarter.

Overall, the team hit 8-13 from the line, 3-10 from three-point range, and shot 44.2% from the floor.

Kiana Hostetler led the way with 16 points, including 3-5 shooting from long range, as she had three assists, two rebounds, and a block.

Carley Brandt put in eight from the short floor while claiming four rebounds, a steal, and a block.

Elli Dudenhoeffer added six points, two assists, and three rebounds, followed by Heslie Higginbotham (5 points, 2 rebounds), Emma Monnette (4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal), Nicole Grellner (4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), Vivien Baker (3 points, 1 assist, 8 rebounds, 1 steal), Hannah Hackmann (2 points, 3 assists, 1 steal), and Kenzy Hackmann (1 point, 2 steals).

Linn’s consolation semifinal against Eugene was very similar as the Lady Cats jumped out early and raced to a 65-19 win.

“This was a much better game,” said Rost. “We finally shot the ball well and looked more confident.”

A 23-7 first-quarter lead swelled to 38-13 at the break and 59-17 after three quarters.

Linn went 7-19 from the three-point range and covered 16-23 from the line while shooting 38.2% overall.

H. Hackmann led the attack with 15 points as she drained 3-8 from three-point range and went 4-5 from the line while collecting 2 rebounds, one assist, and a steal. Hostetler added 11 points (1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT), with three assists, eight rebounds, and three steals.

Higginbotham put in eight, followed by Grellner (7 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal), Brandt (6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals), Paige Senevey (6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), K. Hackmann (5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Monnette (3 points on a trey, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal), Baker (2 points, 1 assist, 4 rebounds, 3 steals), and Dudenhoeffer (2 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals).

The opening game against Russellville was a tale of two halves as the Lady Cats were tied 20-20 at the break but lost 54-34.

“This was not a good game for us,” said Rost. “We played well in the first half but lost focus and momentum in the second. We’re still trying to find our scoring rhythm as a team, but there were glimpses.”

Linn scored six in the third and eight in the fourth.

Hostetler went 4-9 from long range and 2-2 at the stripe on her way to a team-high 18 points. She also had an assist, five boards, and three steals. Also scoring were K. Hackmann (5), Higginbotham (4), H. Hackmann, Dudenhoeffer, and Brandt (2 each), and Baker (1).

On the glass, Baker and Higginbotham snagged five each, followed by Brandt (3), Grellner, K. Hackmann, Monnette (2 apiece), and H. Hackmann (1). Monnette added three steals as Grellner posted one to go with a block, and Baker, Dudenhoeffer, and Higginbotham had one each.