ABOVE: North Union's Ainsley Ulrich looks for an outlet pass in a girls basketball game at North Union High School against  Estherville Lincoln Central Monday night.

ARMSTRONG, Iowa – The North Union Warriors struggled to find the bottom of the net against an aggressive Estherville Lincoln Central team on Monday night as the Warriors fell 52-14 in a nonconference girls basketball game Monday night.

ELC’s defense proved problematic for the Warriors, clogging up passing lanes and forcing their offense to the outside.

“Just a really good team,” said Warriors girls basketball head coach Merle Tigges. “They did what they wanted to. They dictated the game all night. We couldn’t get to the basket, and we didn’t have enough drivers. We didn’t get enough rebounds. Obviously, we rebounded terribly. We didn’t get enough girls to drive to the rack. It’s hard to score. We had too many girls out there that weren’t attacking the baskets.”

Leading the Warriors was Shallie Walders and Ainsley Ulrich with 4 points apiece.

The Warriors struggled in the first half, with ELC consistently disrupting the passing lanes. The Warriors were unable to get the offense moving, being held to just 6 points. ELC went on a 13-0 run, showing off their outside shooting ability with a trio of 3s and consistent shooting at the free-throw line. It wasn’t until two minutes remained in the second quarter that the Warriors were able to end the onslaught of ELC courtesy of Ulrich driving to the basket and putting in a contested layup. The Warriors fired a shot from half court at the buzzer but ended the half down 27-6.

ELC did not let up heading into the second half, giving up only 2 points before draining an open 3 to get the offense going. ELC only gave up 4 points in the frame prior to the buzzer signaling for the end of the third. The scoring slowed in the fourth, but the Warriors were unable to find the scoreboard and closed out the night with the 52-14 loss.

North Union hosts Forest City at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday.