Despite a three-point first quarter, the Lady Cats made it a game in Friday’s 57-39 loss at Fayette.

Trailing 11-3, Linn scored 12 in the second to face a 30-15 halftime deficit. The team shot 37.8% from the field, just below Fayette’s 39.1%, as the ladies battled on every possession.

Linn won the rebounding battle, 35-23, with a 26-17 advantage on the defensive end.

In the fourth, trailing 45-23, the Lady Cats edged Fayette 16-12.

Carley Brandt (2-4 FT) led with 10 points as Heslie Higginbotham (3-5 FT) added nine, and Ali Russell (2 treys) put in eight, while Kenzy Hackmann and Jorja Kempker hit a three-pointer apiece on their way to five points each, and Paige Senevey finished with two. Hackmann led with four assists, Senevey posted three, and Nicole Grellner, Kempker, and Russell added one apiece.

Brandt nearly hit a double-double with eight rebounds, as Grellner and Higgs snatched six boards each, Kempker had five, Senevey added four, Hackmann counted two, and Russell finished with one.

On the defensive end, Senevey pilfered four, Brandt and Kempker added two apiece, and Hackmann stole one. Brandt (2) and Kempker (1) also had blocks.

Three Lady Cats scored in double figures in last Wednesday’s 50-33 win over Owensville.

Linn converted four treys and went 4-12 at the FT line while shooting 33.9% overall from the floor.

On the offensive end, Linn won the rebounding battle, 19-5, which led to 10 second-chance points while the girls held Owensville to five rebounds and no extra points.

The Lady Cats also stepped up defensively, with 13 steals on the night. Grellner counted four, Brandt had three, and Senevey posted two, as Hackmann, Kempker, Russell, and Higginbotham had one apiece. Brandt had the team’s lone block.

Higginbotham led the scoring effort with 15 points, Grellner knocked down two three-pointers on her way to 12 points, and Brandt finished with 10. Hackmann (trey) added seven, and Kempker (trey) and Senevey scored three apiece to round out scoring.

Russell did a good job directing as she posted three assists to go with two by Grellner, and one each by Hackmann and Higginbotham.

Brandt’s 12 rebounds completed her double-double on the night, as Senevey snagged eight, followed by Higginbotham (6), Grellner (3), and Hackmann and Russell, each with two.