By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

OWEN — Owen-Withee pulled ahead by 13 points after the first quarter and went on to defeat Marshfield Columbus Catholic 68-43 in a Cloverbelt Conference East Division girls basketball game Thursday night at Owen-Withee High School.

Owen-Withee led 15-2 after the first quarter and pushed the lead to 24 by the end of the third quarter on its way to the victory.

The Blackhawks are now 13-4 overall and 12-2 in the Cloverbelt East. Columbus drops to 10-9 and 7-7 in the conference.

Jess Trad had 12 points to lead the Dons.

Stephany Heggemeier scored 23 points, and Whitney Baehr added 19 for Owen-Withee.

Columbus Catholic hosts Neillsville on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on WDLB-AM 1450 and wdlbwosq.com at 7:30 p.m.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Blackhawks 68, Dons 43

Columbus Catholic 2 15 9 17 – 43

Owen-Withee 15 18 17 18 – 68

COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (43): Marissa Immerfall 2, Alexandra Hutchison 9, Alishia Reigel 2, Kendra Baierl 5, Jess Trad 12, Natalie Pospyhalla 3, Hannah Stratman 8, Tara Brock 2. Record: 10-9, 7-7 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.

OWEN-WITHEE (68): Stephany Heggemeier 23, Erica Arndt 2, Holly Hatlestad 7, Whitney Baehr 19, Hayley Goessl 6, Hayley Bunnell 11. Record: 13-4, 12-2 Cloverbelt East.