The Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders girls basketball team built an early big lead and raced away from the Audubon Wheelers for a 43-22 win on Monday night to open the season. Both teams struggled to get started with just a 9-4 lead for the Crusaders at the end of the first, but they would balloon that lead to 29-5 by the end of the half to seize control.

Audubon played stronger defense in the second half and Audrey Jensen hit a few threes to produce some scoring, but the Crusaders were too much. After the game Jensen said they improved a lot of things as the game progressed.

She talked about being an upperclassmen on a team with a mix of really young players.

Coon Rapids-Bayard was led by 20 points from Breeley Clayburg and freshman Anna Hart added 7. Next up for the Crusaders is a home tilt versus Stanton on Tuesday.

Audubon was led by 10 points from Jensen and 7 from Kade Sporrer. Audubon hosts Missouri Valley on Tuesday night.