The Austin girls basketball team shook off a slow start to beat Faribault (1-4 overall, 1-3 Big Nine) by a score of 55-38 in Ove Berven Gym Tuesday.

The Packers (2-3 overall, 2-1 Big Nine) trailed 10-1 halfway through the first half before they got their game going.

“We couldn’t get any shots to fall and we were out of rhythm early,” Austin head coach Gary Peterson said. “We came out in the second half and did a much better job of running of our offense.”

Austin’s defense stepped up to the task as it held Faribault to 17 percent shooting and allowed less than 40 points for the first time this season.

“We feel like we’re doing a much better job of scoring this season and we also want to step up our defense,” Peterson said.

Babaye Oja had 10 points and four steals for Austin and Meredith Molhusen had four points and seven rebounds.

“Meredith took a tough charge in the second half where she showed a lot of guts,” Peterson said.

Kelsey Emste led the Falcons with 13 points.

Austin scoring: Babaye Oja, 10; Jenna Svoboda, 8; Mary Kate Barinka, 8; Stephanie Justice, 8; Nina Carney, 6; Sophia Hebrink, 5; Taylor Lady, 5; Meredith Molhusen, 4; Abby Evenson, 1; field goals: 32 percent; rebounds: 32; turnovers: 26