MANKATO &8212; The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls&8217; basketball team barely slipped by Mankato Loyola Thursday night 40-36.

NRHEG trailed by three at halftime 40-36 before making the second-half comeback.

The Panthers were led by Kristina Cole who poured in 10 points and grabbed 11 boards for the double-double while Alyssa Kerkhoff added nine points, Cailin Timm six points and five boards, and Kelsey Christensen six points and seven boards.

The win moves the Panthers one game above the .500 mark at 4-3 overall and 4-0 in the Gopher Conference. The Panthers will play in the St. Clair tournament next Thursday when they face Canby in their first game.

LeRoy 42, A-C 32

LEROY &8212; The Alden-Conger girls&8217; basketball team dug itself an 18-3 hole against LeRoy-Ostrander and lost 42-32 Thursday.

Foul trouble hurt the Knights throughout the game with Nadean Krueger being forced to the bench for much of the game.

The Knights would get as close as nine points in the game but would be unable to claw any closer.

A-C is now 1-5 on the season after suffering its fifth straight loss. The Knights play Windom at the Windom Tournament Friday.