The St. Edmond girls showed on Tuesday night that they can play with anybody in the North Central Conference.

In a see-saw tilt throughout with eighth-ranked (Class 3A) Algona, the Gaels came up just a few buckets short, falling inside the SEHS gym, 64-58.

Senior Lauren McLaughlin, who has committed to join NCAA Div. III power Wartburg College in the fall, scored 25 points to overcome a 27-point effort by Chloe Palmer for St. Edmond (5-9 overall, 1-6 in league).

“I am so proud of how well the girls played,” St. Edmond head coach CJ Tracy said. “Every single girl that stepped on the floor did an excellent job.

“We had a few possessions in the second half that got away from us, but they continued to battle until the very end and gave themselves a chance.”

McLaughlin had eight in the fourth quarter after scoring 15 in the opening half. Hayden Kuhlmann and Bella Jo Dunning joined her in double figures for the Bulldogs (14-3, 9-0) with 14 and 13.

Palmer used her quickness and toughness to constantly break the Algona defense, scoring nine in both the second and third quarters. She knocked down three 3-pointers, including a big one late to put the Gaels within five.

McLaughlin, though, calmly sank four free throws to help seal the victory.

Josie Harvey added 13 points, with nine coming in the final quarter, while Payton Bradley had four triples for 12. The two seniors also added five rebounds and three steals, as junior Anna Lursen pulled down 11 rebounds despite being matched up with the taller McLaughlin, who surpassed 1,000 career points.

“Algona is the top team in the conference right now,” Tracy said. “These girls deserve a ton of credit for how well they played.”

Freshman Ava Bradley saw her first extended time on the court, scoring four points with four rebounds for St. Edmond, who lost to Algona earlier this year, 77-34.

The six-point margin of victory was the closest in this series since a 50-40 win for the Gaels in 2013.

St. Edmond hosts West Bend-Mallard on Thursday before closing out the week at No. 13 (3A) Hampton-Dumont/CAL Friday night.

ALGONA 64, ST. EDMOND 58

St. Edmond — Sophia Schlienz 0 0-0 0, Anna Lursen 0 0-0 0, Payton Bradley 4 0-0 12, Chloe Palmer 11 2-4 27, Josie Harvey 4 4-4 13, Abby Huss 1 0-0 2, Maggie Flaherty 0 0-0 0, Ava Bradley 2 0-0 4, Olivia Andrew 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 6-8 58.

Algona — Hayden Kuhlmann 5 4-6 14, Paige Schmitt 1 0-0 2, Casey VanOtterloo 1 0-0 3, Hayden McLaughlin 2 3-4 7, Lauren McLaughlin 9 4-6 25, Taylor VanOtterloo 0 0-0 0, Bella Jo Dunning 5 3-6 13, Maya Lentz 0 0-0 0, Gabby Venteicher 0 0-0 0, Emma Spear 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 14-22 64.

Quarter scores: Algona led 17-12, 31-25, 48-42. Three-point goals: St. Edmond 7 (P. Bradley 4, Palmer 3, Harvey 1), Algona 4 (T. VanOtterloo 1, L. McLaughlin 3). Total rebounds: St. Edmond 30, Algona 32. Steals: St. Edmond 5, Algona 4. Blocked shots: St. Edmond 0, Algona 2. Turnovers: St. Edmond 15, Algona 12. Team fouls: St. Edmond 16, Algona 7. Fouled out: P. Bradley.