Freshman Nancy Ruholl and senior Lucy Fearday combined to score the first nine points in the opening four minutes. The Lady Bulldogs forced nine turnovers in the opening period and converted a basket after six of those. The sixth one resulted in a layup by Ruholl and a 22-0 lead.

Addi Nuxoll, Anna Faber and Stacie Vonderheide all scored to open the second quarter and increased the margin to 28-0 before Julie Schrock hit a shot for Okaw Valley at the 6:09 mark. By halftime, it was a 30-point spread, 39-9.

“I was able to sub early,” Rios noted. “Some of our freshmen and sophomores hadn’t gotten any varsity minutes yet this year. Our JV game got cancelled tonight, but I was able to get some of our younger kids in the game.”

Faber scored 11 points in the third period, as SAHS increased its lead to 57-15. Because of the score, there was a continuously running clock in the fourth quarter.

Faber finished with a game-high 22 points, while Ruholl and Fearday scored 14 and 12 respectively. The Lady Bulldogs shot 51 percent from the floor, connecting on 32-of-63 attempts. They were 3-for-7 from three-point range and 2-for-7 from the foul line. They forced Okaw Valley into 24 turnovers and held a 31-12 rebounding edge. Fearday pulled down seven boards.

The Lady Bulldogs are now 7-0, which according to Rios, is the best start for a St. Anthony team in the last decade. They will play Thursday night at Windsor/Stew-Stras in a National Trail Conference game.

“We just want to continue to get better and keep the momentum going,” Rios said.