The Austin girls basketball team had a couple of chances to get back in the game, but it just didn’t happen for it as the Packers lost to Red Wing 66-39 in Ove Berven Gym Tuesday.

The Wingers (2-1 overall) closed the game on a 24-6 run as what was a 10-point game with 10 minutes left turned into a blowout.

“We knew Red Wing would come out tough,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “Tonight we didn’t answer the bell.”

The Wingers jumped out to an 8-1 run to start the game and the Packers never got closer than four. Austin pulled to within 24-18 when Kristine Snyder hit a jump shot with a minute left in the first half, but the Wingers scored five quick points to push their lead back up to 11 at the half.

Austin (1-1 overall) pulled to within 40-32 in the second half when Amber Hansen hit a jump shot, but that was as close as Austin would get.

“I feel like we could’ve played with them better,” Johnson said. “We didn’t play very good defense and we gave them a lot of good looks. We didn’t shoot very well either. I didn’t have my kids ready to go.”

Austin was led by Mer Gach, who had seven points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sydney Murphy had seven points, three assists and three rebounds and freshman Ruth Koang had three points and nine rebounds.

“We’re young,” Johnson said. “We don’t have lot of experience and some of these kids are getting their first bulk of varsity time.”

RW 29 37 — 66

Austin 18 21 — 39

Austin scoring: Shayley Vesel, 10; Sydney Murphy, 7; Mer Gach, 7; Merideth Fritz, 6; Kristine Synder, 4; Ruth Koang, 3; Amber Hansen, 2; free throws: 73 percent (73); rebounds: 40 (Gach, 12); turnovers: 19