O-A routs R-U 52-38

In similar fashion to the Iowa winter, the new year has been cold for the Remsen-Union girls.

After opening the 2008-09 season with a 4-3 record in December - which is three more wins than the team saw in the previous two seasons - Coach Nick Fynaardt's squad has struggled with its first two games back this week.

The Lady Rockets dropped their second straight on Tuesday night with a 52-38 loss on the road at Odebolt-Arthur.

"We just didn't come out ready to play," Fynaardt said.

The host Trojans got on the board early and their defense kept the Lady Rockets scoreless until just two minutes remained in the opening quarter.

O-A led 14-6 after the first.

Things continued to click for the Trojans in the second quarter as they extended their lead to 25-11 by the half.

R-U tried to dig its way out of the 14-point deficit in the third quarter, outscoring O-A 17-15.

But the Trojans held strong in the final eight minutes with a 12-10 advantage en route to a 52-38 win.

R-U senior Gina Frericks returned to the court after battling an ankle injury over the winter break and poured in nine points for the Lady Rockets.

"It was nice to get Gina in and get her some minutes to get her back in the feel of things," Fynaardt said. "Obviously she's not nearly at full strength, but her play tonight was good."

Kelsey Paskert also added nine points while freshman Alison Schreiner earned a start and contributed eight points.

Cassie Stoos scored seven points for the Lady Rockets.

R-U (4-5) is on the road again Friday in Mapleton to take on Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto in a Western Valley Conference matchup.

"We're looking to regroup and really focus on the big game down there Friday night," Fynaardt said. "Hopefully we can get ourselves ready and play basketball at the level we want to play at."