PHOTOS: Richfield Spartans Top Stars in Girls Basketball Playoff Opener

It took less than 75 minutes for to win her 100th game at the Spartans' helm as her squad cruised to a 58-36 win over neighboring Holy Angels in the opening game of the Section 6AAA playoffs Thursday night.

Second-seeded Richfield led the No. 7 seed Stars from the start in the fast-moving contest that was more than midway through the first half as fans were still finding their seats. 

The Spartans were not challenged on the night, taking a double-digit lead at 16-5 less than seven minutes into the game on a basket by Haley Lindblom, who also gave the hosts their first 15-point edge on a score 60 seconds later.

Richfield led 38-22 at the break and pushed its edge to as high as 28 points in the second half before a 7-0 run pulled Holy Angels to within 21 points, where it would remain for the majority of the rest of the game.

Both squads emptied their benches in the final minutes until the concluding horn blew on the Spartans' 22-point victory.

Richfield guard led all scorers with 18 points, while center Bryann Guyton chipped in 12 points for the Spartans; guard paced the Stars with 13 points.

Holy Angels, having played without on of its top players in injured guard Liz Lecy for much of the season, finished the 2010-11 campaign with a 5-22 record.

Improving to 23-4 overall with the victory, Richfield advances to host third-seeded Orono—a 65-39 victory over No. 6 Waconia on Thursday night—in the sectional semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The 6AAA final is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 10 at Minnetonka High School.