The Austin girls basketball team continues to get close, but not close enough.

The Packers lost their seventh game in a row as they lost at Rochester John Marshall (7-6 overall, 5-1 Big Nine) 69-61 in Rochester Friday.

Of Austin’s last seven losses, five of them have been by 10 points or less and three of them were by two points or less.

The Packers (3-8 overall, 1-5 Big Nine) trailed 10-0 to start the game at JM, but they pulled to within 20-16 in the first half and fought to within two points in the second half.

“We just couldn’t get over the hump,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “We did some good things on offense, but we’ve got to clean up our defense.”

Mer Gach led Austin with 21 points.

The Packers will host Mankato West Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Austin 30 31 — 61

JM 33 36 — 69

Austin scoring: Mer Gach, 21; Shayley Vesel, 13; Alex Hansen, 11; Ruth Koang, 6; Sydney Murphy, 5; Amber Hansen, 3; Tori Grev, 2; free throws: 59 percent (10-for-17)