DES MOINES — The Fort Dodge girls got the last laugh at Des Moines Lincoln here on Saturday, scoring six of the game’s last seven points to prevail by a final of 42-41.

The Dodgers (6-9 overall) trailed for most of the afternoon, taking their first lead since the opening minutes of the game with a little over six minutes remaining in regulation. Fort Dodge was up 36-32 when the Railsplitters (5-9) answered with a 8-0 run.

The visitors only allowed a single free throw and no field goals in the final three minutes, though, buckling down defensively on Lincoln’s final possession with a chance to win it.

Junior Ellie Doster had what proved to be the winning basket with a back-door layup on a pass from sophomore Malay Hollins with 1:05 remaining.

Senior LJ Maehl had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Dodgers, who also got eight points and eight boards from freshman point guard Brooklyn Gilliland. Fort Dodge prevailed despite making only 10 of its 25 free-throw attempts and 2 of its 16 three-point tries.

“We did some good things and executed well, especially late with the game on the line,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “We weren’t at 100 percent, given Malay wasn’t feeling well and Ellie rolled her ankle (in the first half) before coming back. But we gutted it out.

“LJ and Brooklyn played well. Linnie (Pratt) gave us good minutes off the bench defensively and hit a big three (in the fourth quarter with a one-point lead), and Addie (Lentsch) and Bella (Lee) did some nice things. Our defense was solid. That’s what we need –(contributions) beyond just the shooting and scoring. I thought our defense really stepped up and won it. You’ll always take (a victory) on the road.”

The Dodgers had 19 steals, with Gilliland and Hollins coming up with five each.

The Rails led 22-16 at halftime. Sophomore Jumi Kaoyode had a game-high 18 points, but only seven in the second half.

Senior Ava Signs added 11 for Lincoln.

Fort Dodge returns to action at home on Tuesday and Thursday this week, hosting Marshalltown and Mason City. The Dodgers have been on the road for five consecutive contests the last two weeks, but now have four of their final six regular-season contests in the FDSH gym.

FORT DODGE 42, DM LINCOLN 41

Fort Dodge — LJ Maehl 5 6-11 16, Brooklyn Gilliland 3 2-8 8, Ellie Doster 2 0-0 5, Malay Hollins 1 0-0 2, Grace Nichols 1 0-0 2, Linnie Pratt 1 1-2 4, Addie Lentsch 1 1-4 3, Bella Lee 1 0-0 2, Macy Wills 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 10-25 42.

Des Moines Lincoln — Jumi Kayode 8 1-2 18, Ava Signs 3 2-4 11, Leiah Ochoa 2 0-0 5, Monique Stonehocker 2 1-2 5, Ella Foust 1 0-0 2, Koreylyn Brown 0 0-0 0, Brielle O’Donnell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 4-8 41.

Quarter scores: Lincoln led 11-10, 22-16, 29-26. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 2 (Doster 1, Pratt 1); Lincoln 5 (Signs 3, Kayode, Ochoa). Total fouls: Fort Dodge 14, Lincoln 18.