The Lady Wildcats got double-digit scoring from Claire Baker (12) and Jessica Keilholz (10) en route to a 49-35 win over Highland on Friday at the Moberly Area Community College (MACC) Shootout.

“We started off slow in the first half,” said Coach Brandi Moore. “We had a lot of good open shots that we didn’t hit.”

That slow start resulted in just nine points in each the first and second quarter as Linn trailed 22-18 at the half.

Linn led 2-0 at the 6:52 mark of the first quarter on a C. Baker basket and did not lead again until a Jessica Keilholz three-pointer put the LadyCats ahead for good at the 6:58 mark of the fourth quarter in the middle of a 15-0 Linn run. Highland 33-28 with 1:11 for the  third quarter before making its run to close out the game.

Linn hit an offensive stride in the final period, outscoring Highland 21-2 to put the game out of reach.

“We really turned up the pressure on defense,” said Moore. “That was the difference in the game.”

Highland head girls coach Meleia Niemann said turnovers were a big factor.

“We had a lot of turnovers and I thought our aggressiveness took a lapse (in the fourth quarter),” she said.

Rebounding played a big role too, as the Lady Cats posted a 51-26 advantage on the glass. Addy Johnson led the Lady Cougars with 12 rebounds to go with a game-high 23 points.

Hostetler also led Linn with 11 rebounds, as C.

Baker and Wolfe each grabbed 10, J. Keilholz added six, Brandt had four, A. Baker and Deeken pulled down two apiece, and Kennedy Frank and Heidbrink finished with one each.

Defensively, Linn had 10 deflections, nine steals and two blocks.

C. Baker scored all of her points from two-point range while J. Keilholz went 2-3 from three point range.

Also scoring were Aushara Hostetler (8), Lindsey Brandt (7), Lexie Heidbrink (6), Alexis Wolfe (3), Autumn Baker (2) and Nicole Deeken (1). All of

Brandt’s points came in the fourth quarter, while Hostetler scored eight of her 10 in the second half.

Hostetler posted a teamhigh five assists, with three more by J. Keilholz, and one apiece by C. Baker, A. Baker, Brandt and Heidbrink.

Defensively, J. Keilholz recorded four steals, Hostetler and Brandt each added two, and C. Baker posted one. J. Keilholz and Hostetler also had a block apiece.