The Anoka-Ramsey Women’s Basketball team started hot, but cooled off in the second quarter – resulting in a 70-65 loss to Riverland on Monday afternoon.

The Golden Rams led 23-15 after the first quarter thanks to 53.5 percent shooting and a banked-in three at the buzzer from Destiny Casey.

But the offense stalled in the second quarter as the Blue Devils won the period 20-6 after shooting 57.1 percent compared to just 25 percent for Anoka-Ramsey.

Anoka-Ramsey fell behind by eight in the third quarter, but rallied to tie the score at 46 apiece after a made three from Kimori Morris with 2:24 left in the quarter.

Riverland responded with seven unanswered points to end the quarter with a seven point lead entering the fourth.

Anoka-Ramsey chipped away at the deficit and eventually took a 59-57 lead with 4:22 to play in the game.  But another 7-0 run from Riverland gave them a five point lead with just over a minute left, and the Blue Devils held on from there.

The Golden Rams shot 41.4 percent and forced 21 turnovers.  But Riverland shot 49 percent and forced 20 Golden Ram turnovers while outrebounding Anoka-Ramsey 37-29.

Janea Arnoldi scored 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting to go with eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

CeCe Bell scored 13 points.

Casey added eight points and six rebounds.

Anoka-Ramsey is 15-7 and now faces an uphill climb to earn a spot in the NJCAA Region Tournament.  The Golden Rams sit in fifth place in the Southern Division, with the top four teams advancing.  Anoka-Ramsey has three games left to play, with the teams ahead of them only have two left.  Anoka-Ramsey needs to at minimum win two of their last three to have a chance to make the tournament.