Photo by Rick Thompson: St. Edmond's Anna Lursen defends Humboldt's Ava Fischer on Tuesday in Humboldt.

HUMBOLDT — Chloe Palmer was having one of those nights and the St. Edmond girls basketball team rode her efforts to a road win to begin the new year here on Tuesday night.

The Gaels (4-2 overall, 4-1 North Central Conference) held on for a 60-51 victory over NCC foe Humboldt (4-4, 2-3) inside the Wildcat gym.

Palmer had a strong opening stanza, hitting six three pointers in the first half and scoring 20 points.

“Early on they left her open and she made them pay,” said St. Edmond head coach CJ Tracy. “We set some screens for her and she was able to hit six in the first half and I think she only missed one.

“She was feeling it — and was ready for what we needed to win.”

She finished the night with seven three pointers and 32 points – the most during Tracy’s six-year tenure.

The Gaels fired out of the gates, building a 14-0 lead before the Wildcats even got on the board.

“We got off to a great start and got up 14-0,” Tracy said. “They left some of our shooters open, but we were able to keep the lead at 14 to 18 points.

“They built some momentum going into the second half with a three-quarters court shot from Fischer and then they cut the lead down two.”

Humboldt fought back, cutting the advantage to 11 at the half, on a three-quarters court shot from Ava Fischer.

The Wildcats used that momentum in the second half, cutting the lead to two with three minutes remaining.

Palmer helped seal the victory, hitting three of four from the charity stripe in the final minute.

Freshman Eden Horn finished the contest with a double-double. She had 10 points and 14 rebounds. Anna Lursen had eight points for the Gaels.

Jada VandeWalle led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Fischer had 16, scoring her 1,000th career point in the contest.

“It was kind of new territory for us, having a big lead, holding on and earning the win,” Tracy said. “We haven’t been in these situations and we saw them playing not to lose.

“We called a timeout and had a discussion. We changed some things and came out and got the win. I’m proud of their effort for being able to hang on and extend the lead late in a close game.”

The Gaels are back in action on Thursday when they travel to South Hamilton as part of a doubleheader that tips at 6:30 p.m.

ST. EDMOND 60,

HUMBOLDT 51

St. Edmond — Sophia Schlienz 3, Anna Lursen 8, Chloe Palmer 32, Eden Horn 10, Jade Rock 1, Abby Huss 4, Olivia Andrew 2.

Humboldt — Payton Elman 6, Kate Sievers 4, Kaleigh Vinsand 3, Kiera Anderson 4, Ava Fischer 16, Jada VandeWalle 17, Brayleigh Angstrom 1.

Quarter scores: SE led 20-7, 38-21, 45-38.