Linn ended last week with a tough loss at Tipton, 87-44, but won the two previous games after starting the week with a loss at Cairo.

“ ,” said Coach Caleb Thomas.

At Tipton, the Lady Cats played from behind but kept their composure in a difficult atmosphere on the road. At the half, Linn faced a 52-21 deficit.

Overall, the team shot 43.9%, with four treys and a 4-8 performance at the charity stripe. Linn held a 12-8 edge in second-chance points.

Carley Brandt (3-4 FT) led the Lady Cats with 17 points and eight rebounds. Heslie Higginbotham added nine points, followed by Jorja Kempker (2 treys, 6), Nicole Grellner (trey, 5), Ali Russell (trey, 3), and Kenzy Hackmann and Paige Senevey (2 each). Grellner’s three assists led the team, and Hackmann and Senevey each counted one.

Senevey added two rebounds to the mix, and Grellner, Hackmann, Kempker, Higginbotham, and Russell each had one.

On the other end, Higginbotham posted two steals as Grellner, Hackmann, Russell, and Senevey each posted one. Senevey had two blocks, and Grellner added another.

In Thursday’s game at School of the Osage, the Lady Cats built a first-half lead (35-26) and maintained an edge through the second half for a 61-53 win.

“ ,” said Thomas.

After staking to a nine-point halftime lead, the Lady Cats slipped a bit in the third, but recovered in the fourth with a 16-13 edge to claim victory.

Brandt (6-10 FT) scored 22 and grabbed 15 rebounds for a double-double to lead all players. Higgs (trey) added 15 points, Kempker (2 treys) added eight, Senevey and Grellner (trey) posted five apiece, and Hackmann and Russell (each with a trey) scored three apiece. Grellner’s four assists paced the team as Brandt, Senevey, and Hackmann added three each.

Also on the rebounding front, Senevey snagged eight and Grellner had five, followed by Higginbotham (4), Hackmann (3), and Kempker and Russell (1 apiece).

Brandt was solid defensively as well, with four blocks and four steals. Senevey added two blocks and a steal, and Grellner, Hackmann, Kempker, Russell, and Higginbotham each provided a steal.

Four Lady Cats scored in double figures on Tuesday in Linn’s 64-58 win over South Callaway: Higginbotham led with 17, Brandt added 15, Hackmann (2 treys, 6-8 FT) put in 14, and Senevey scored 10.

Grellner added five, and Russell hit a trey for her three points. Hackmann and Grellner shared the assists lead with five apiece, and Russell dished it three times.

Brandt’s 12 rebounds gave her a double-double, and Higginbotham grabbed nine, followed by Grellner (6), Hackmann, Kempker, and Senevey (3 each), and Russell (1).

Defensively, Higgs posted five steals, and Grellner added three, as Hackmann and Senevey counted a block apiece.

Linn opened last week with a 67-59 loss to Cairo on Monday.

The only real separation came in the second quarter. Linn led by two going into it, but Cairo used a 15-9 advantage to take a 35-31 lead into the break. From there, the Lady Cats played close but lost two more points before making them up in the final eight minutes.

On the night, Linn hit seven three-pointers and show 47.1% overall.

Grellner hit four treys and led the team with 20 points. Brandt (3-3 FT) added 15, followed by Higginbotham (8), Kempker (2 treys, 6), Senevey (4), and Hackmann and Russell (trey), each with three. Hackmann directed traffic well with six assists, as Grellner, Senevey, and Brandt counted two apiece.

On the glass, Brandt snagged 11 rebounds for another double-double, as Higginbotham and Senevey each had five, Grellner posted four, and Hackmann finished with three.

Brandt’s three blocks led the Lady Cats as she added a steal to go with two from Grellner, and one each from Higgs and Senevey.