Swedes fight back against rated Lex team.

The 15-point hole Gothenburg allowed itself to fall into during the first quarter of Thursday night’s game was just too much to overcome.

The Swedes fell behind early and despite a valiant comeback effort in the fourth period, lost to Class B’s No. 8 Lexington 59-44.

“We got off to a slow start,” said Swede coach Tim Peterson. “That was something we were definitely hoping to avoid. I thought we could play with anybody, beat anybody but we couldn’t afford a slow start.”

Lexington cruised out to a 12-0 lead before Gothenburg could get on the board in the first quarter and the Minutemaids finished the period with a comfortable 21-6 advantage.

“We’re still trying to develop that culture of coming out and believing we can win right off the bat,” Peterson said. “Once we settled down, we were fine.”

Beyond the first quarter, the score was relatively even.

The deficit was just too much to overcome, though.

Lexington took a 32-16 lead into halftime.

Gothenburg kept plugging away in the third period but Lexington’s lead never dwindled until about midway through the fourth quarter when the Swedes got their inside game going.

“I thought we should have an advantage inside,” Peterson said. “Kersten Nelson was posting up well in the paint and she did a good job of finishing.”

Nelson had six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Still, it wasn’t quite enough.

“We cut the lead to 10 more than once late in the game,” Peterson said, “but by the time we were able to make a run, then we had to foul to stop the clock. Lexington had to go to the line and they got it done.”

The Minutemaids had eight points from the free throw line in the final minute of the game.

Brittyn Munster led the Swedes in scoring with 12 points. Taylor Wolf pulled down nine rebounds.

Casey Seberger led the Maids with 18 points, making 14-of-15 free throws. Sydney Seberger added 15 points.

“It’s not an easy way to start when you play the Class B No. 8 team first game of the year,” Peterson said, “but it gives you a good measuring point. We know we’re just going to get better.”