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Girls basketball: Libertyville’s dominating 3rd quarter too much for Mundelein

An old rivalry was renewed when host Libertyville faced Mundelein in North Suburban Conference girls basketball action Thursday night.

It was a game of big surges for the host Wildcats, and some dry spells for the Mustangs as Libertyville stormed ahead to a 13-0 lead right out of the gates only to see Mundelein go on a 13-3 run of its own.

When all was said and done, an 18-point run by the Wildcats (8-4, 5-0) in the third quarter helped carry Libertyville to a 50-27 NSC victory as Mundelein (6-6, 1-3) was outscored 20-2 in the decisive period.

After being plagued by cold shooting and turnovers in the first quarter, the Mustangs went on their 13-3 run as the second 3-pointer by junior Casey Vyverman (10 of her 12 points in first half) cut the Wildcats' lead to 16-13.

Mundelein outscored Libertyville 15-10 in the second quarter, but a 3-pointer by Elinor Lindal (game-high 13 points) gave the Wildcats a 23-17 lead heading into halftime.

"I think when we went in for halftime we were talking about coming out with a lot of energy because we kind of fell off in the second quarter a little bit with our energy," said Lindal, who had three 3-pointers overall. "So we came back in the third quarter and we just wanted to get some motion going and get back on defense because they got a few points on us. So I think it was all about our energy coming back in."

Two free throws by Vyverman kept the game close at 25-19 early in the third quarter. But then came an 18-point run by Libertyville as a fast-break basket by Ella Pawelczyk (10 points) gave the Wildcats a commanding 43-19 lead entering the fourth quarter.

"Our third quarter obviously you can't go 20-2. We've got to put the ball in the hole, and we've got to play better defense," said Mundelein coach Sarah Teipel. "I was really proud of the fight we had in that second quarter and I definitely think that we proved we could play with them. But that third quarter killed us and you've got to play a full game to beat a good team."

Sophia Swanson scored 6 of her 8 points in the first half for Libertyville while teammates Madison Sears and Lily Fisher scored 7 and 6 points, respectively. Senior Lucy Heikes came off the bench to score 7 points for Mundelein while teammates Adrianna Lesniak and Grace Dunigan scored 4 points each.

"They just had a resolve to come out with the type of energy that we expect to play with, and we won that third quarter 20-2 with just a lot of athleticism and a lot of second and third attempts," said Libertyville coach Greg Pedersen. "I thought that our kids did a really good job of getting the ball up the floor. Elinor (Lindal) was on fire, and that's what happens when a lot of teams are putting two or three people on Lily (Fisher). And we just have the weapons around her to make people pay for that."

Libertyville will host Rockford Auburn in the first round of its holiday tournament starting on Saturday.

  Mundelein’s Madalyn Gardner grabs a loose ball in a crowd in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Elinor Lindal brings the ball upcourt as Mundelein’s Grace Dunigan, right, and Madalyn Gardner stay with her in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein’s Audrey Smith tries to control the ball under pressure from Libertyville’s Lily Fisher and Elle Knight, right, in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Sophia Swanson regains control of the ball under pressure from Mundelein’s Madalyn Gardner in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Lily Fisher brings the ball upcourt against Mundelein in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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