The Austin girls basketball team started both halves in dominant fashion as it blasted Mankato East 62-40 in Ove Berven Gym Friday.

The Packers (10-9 overall, 10-8 Big Nine) opened the game on a 14-0 run over eight minutes and they used a 15-6 run to start the second half and go up 43-19.

“We have a tendency to not come out with our guns blazing,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “We’ve got to have a good start in both halves and I thought tonight we did a good job of that. We felt like this was a good test for us.”

Austin seniors Kelsey Sederquest and Ashley Hawkshead combined for just seven points of their own, but they were able to impact the game in other ways for their team. Sederquest had four points, seven rebounds and four assists and Hawkshead had three points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“With our team it’s not about who scores the most, it’s about working as a team and making the extra pass to score,” said Sederquest.

The Packers forced 21 turnovers in the win and they were able to get out and run.

“It was a big defensive game for us,” Hawkshead said. “Transition points got us going tonight. It’s a lot of fun when you’re moving up the floor and an assist is just as good as two point.”

Shayley Vesel had 18 points and four assists for Austin and Awenia Nywesh had 10 points and seven rebounds.

“We had to have that mindset not to have a let down. Eighteen minutes is a long half and a lot of kids played well,” Johnson said. “We tend to ride Shayley. Her energy is very infectious and she’s kind of that kid for us.”

The Cougars (7-14 overall, 5-13 Big Nine) got as close as 23-13 late in the first half, but they never got within angle digits the rest of the way,

East 13 27 — 40

Austin 28 34 — 62

Austin scoring: Shayley Vesel, 18; Ruth Koang, 13; Awenia Nywesh, 10; Rebecca Younis, 8; Kelsey Sederquest, 4; Amber Hansen, 4; Ashley Hawkshead, 3; KieJuana VanZant, 2; free throws: 20 percent (1-for-5); rebounds; 29 (Sederquest, 7; Nywesh, 7); turnovers: 13