Austin Packers girls’ basketball team routs Faribault 76-32 in 2020-2021 season opener

The Austin Packers girls’ basketball team had not taken the floor since February 29th, 2020 against Kasson/Mantorville in the Section 1AAA playoffs due the the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Packers showed no signs of rust in their 2020-2021 season opener Tuesday evening versus Faribault at Ove Berven Gym as Austin started the game on a 33-1 run on their way to a 76-32 victory.

Emma Dudycha hit two of Austin’s six 3-point field goals in the first half, plus a 2-point field goal to score eight of Austin’s first 10 points and the Packer defense, which forced 19 Faribault turnovers in the game held the Falcons without a field goal until Evy Vettrus swished a 3-pointer with only 2:02 left in the first half.

Junior center Reana Schmitt, who played a strong game for Austin on both ends of the floor led the Packers with 19 points, plus she was only a rebound short of a double-double with nine.  Emma Dudycha added 17 points and Elyse Hebrink and Cassidy Schute, who drained three 3-pointers in the first half each finished with 10 points.  Hope Dudycha chipped in eight points and Olivia Walsh added six points for Austin, who led 46-7 at the half and led by as many as 57 at one point in the second half at 69-12 on their way to the win.

Austin starts out their 17 game regular season schedule with a record of 1-0, and they return to action Saturday night in Mankato versus the West Scarlets, with the B-Squad tip-off at 6:00 p.m., and the varsity tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.