The Riveraland women’s basketball team overcame an early slump to roll past Anoka-Ramsey 78-65 in Riverland Gym Wednesday.

The Blue Devils (14-3 overall, 3-1 MCAC) jumped out to a 10-4 lead, but later in the first half A-R (12-6 overall, 2-2 MCAC) rattled off seven straight points to take a 22-18 lead. RCC answered with an 8-0 run of it’s own that was capped by a three-pointer from Krissy Schemmel on a kick-out from Justine Sanvick of Hayfield, who had seven assists, to make it 26-22 with 4:35 left in the half.

Schemmel, a Mankato West grad, finished shooting 5-for-5 from the field with 12 points and six rebounds, and Anna Hebrink added six threes, four assists and 28 points for the Blue Devils.

“Krissy found the open spots and Anna was hitting her threes and that’s always good,” said RCC center Brooke Monson, who had 27 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and five blocks.

After A-R started the second half with a free throw to make it 37-32, the Blue Devils scored the next 11 points as they imposed their will.

“We had a lot of hustle and lot of defense,” RCC head coach Suzy Hebrink said. “I thought Gretchen (Hebrink) did a great job defensively of making them force some things. It seems like any give game we’ve had different people step up on defense.”

On offense, Monson owned the paint as she hit 11 of her 19 shots.

“They just don’t have the height to stick with Brooke. She realized that and she played with a fire tonight,” Suzy Hebrink said.

Monson used a simple tip from her coach to improve her scoring chances down the stretch.

“They were double teaming and sometimes triple teaming me, so I just used my height,” Monson said. “On a few of them I didn’t use the backboard and I missed. Coach told me to use the backboard and after that I used it and they went in. Funny how that happens.”

A-R scored six straight to pull within 61-52 with 6:30 left in the game, but Schemmel converted two lay-ups during a 7-0 RCC run to put it away.

Anoka-Ramsey 31 34 — 65

Riverland 37 41 — 78

Riverland scoring: Anna Hebrink, 28; Brooke Monson, 27; Krissy Schemmel, 12; Justine Sanvick, 9; Mandy May, 2; field goals: 48 percent (27-for-56); three-pointers: 53 percent (8-for-15); free throws: 59 percent (16-for-27); rebounds: 36 (Monson, 9); turnovers: 22

Anoka-Ramsey scoring: Kate Bement, 17; Alyssa Silva, 13; Desirae Robinson, 11; Carri Roline, 11; Megan Hambleton, 7; Georgia Moriff, 4; Rosebear, 2; field goals: 37 percent (25-for-67); three-pointers: 21 percent (4-for-19); free throws: 52 percent (11-for-21); rebounds: 42 (Bement, 12); turnovers: 23