Still, a win is a win is a win.

Despite not being at its best offensively, the Webster City girls’ basketball team was locked in at the defensive end and smothered St. Edmond in a 39-15 North Central Conference win Friday night.

“It’s so hard to go into that gym and play well for some reason,” WCHS head coach Nicole Muhlenbruch said. “It seems like you’re always lucky if you can get out of there with a win. But our defense was good. We talked at halftime that we wanted to keep them under 20 (points) and we were able to do that.”

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Lynx (8-6, 5-4 NCC), who climbed over .500 in the league for the first time this season. St. Edmond (0-12, 0-8 NCC) remained winless on the campaign.

Webster City’s Grace Hoversten (left) eyes the bucket during Friday’s 39-15 win over St. Edmond on Friday. Messenger photo/Tom Vogt

WCHS did the majority of its damage from behind the 3-point are with 21 of its points courtesy of seven triples.

Taylor McKinney cashed in on three long range jumpers in the opening half and scored all of her game-high 11 points prior to the intermission. She helped the Lynx build a 25-7 halftime cushion that essentially put the game away.

WCHS also received plenty of bench production — 17 points in all. Jenna Miller hit a pair of 3s and scored eight points. Leah Kasch chipped in six more.

“It’s really nice to see those (reserves) play well,” Muhlenbruch said. “They come in with energy and do what they need to do to help the team win.”

Grace Hoversten provided six more points, while Adalie Schwandt contributed three points and a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with three steals.

St. Edmond managed just five field goals. WCHS held the Gaels scoreless over the final eight minutes of play.

Cambrie McBride led St. Edmond with six points.

WCHS will now embark on its toughest three-game stretch of the season — all of them at home — and it begins on Tuesday against fourth-ranked (Class 3A) Clear Lake at 6:15 p.m. The Lynx will then host No. 13 (3A) Hampton-Dumont on Friday and No. 8 (4A) Gilbert on Saturday.

Webster City 39, St. Edmond 15

Friday at Fort Dodge

Webster City (8-6, 5-4 NCC) — Tatum Goings 1 0-0 2, Taylor McKinney 4 0-0 11, Kelly Stoakes 0 0-0 0, Grace Hoversten 2 0-0 6, Adalie Schwandt 1 1-7 3, Leah Kasch 3 0-0 6, Jenna Miller 3 0-0 8, Morgan Gallentine 0 1-2 1, Kayley Wibholm 1 0-2 2, Shelby Queen 0 0-0 0, Kaylyn Anderson 0 0-0 0, Shaylee Gordon 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 2-11 39.

St. Edmond (0-12, 0-8 NCC) — Kelli Kersten 1 0-0 2, Cambrie McBride 2 2-4 6, Aubrey Bemrich 0 0-0 0, Leah Neverman 2 3-4 7, Gracie Harvey 0 0-1 0, Emma Alstott 0 0-0 0, Emma Neverman 0 0-0 0, Avery Galles 0 0-0 0, Leah Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 5 5-9 15.

Web. City 9 16 11 3 — 39

St. Edmond 3 4 8 0 — 15

3-point field goals — WC 7 (McKinney 3, Hoversten 2, Miller 2). Rebounds — WC 35 (Schwandt 11). Steals — WC 14 (Schwandt 3). Turnovers — WC 15. Team fouls — WC 14, SE 10. Fouled out — SE: Kersten.