OVER THE DEFENSE — Fairmont post player Jazlyn Geerdes (left) elevates and fires a jumpshot over Blue Earth Area defender Chloe Groe during Big South Conference basketball action Friday night in Blue Earth. (Photo by Kevin Mertens/Faribault County Register)

BLUE EARTH — Fairmont junior center Nevaeh Rahm proved any player coming off the bench can make a significant impact on the outcome of a game.

The 5-foot-10 Rahm generated a game-high double-double performance of 17 points and 10 rebounds to complement four steals and three assists to power the Cardinals’ 66-39 Big South Conference basketball triumph over the Blue Earth Area Bucs on Friday night in Blue Earth.

Trailing by an early 5-2 deficit on the heels of BEA center Sophia Keister’s low-post basket and guard Lola Lundquist’s 3-pointer, Rahm stepped onto the hardwood court and helped trigger Fairmont’s ensuing 11-0 scoring surge.

Rahm sank a solo free throw before Kate Busche drained the first of her three trifectas off a Grace Pendergast assist to swing a 6-5 lead to the Cardinals at the 13:45 juncture. Fairmont opened the game by missing its first seven field-goal attempts.

“Once our offense started moving the basketball better to find openings in their defense, we made a nice run about five minutes into the game,” said Fairmont head coach Sara Junkermeier, whose roster featured four players in double digits in scoring. “We’ve kind of been relying too much on our outside shots a little too much in the last couple of games and needed to find a better balance.”

Rahm then spotted Brylee Miller for a net-snapping 3-pointer before Miller and Pendergast pounded the basketball into the low post to Rahm for back-to-back baskets to build a 13-5 margin at the 11:45 mark.

Lundquist, who topped the Bucs with 10 points, tossed in a runner in the paint to halt the Cardinals’ scoring run before Kate Busche, Miller and Rahm utilized a perimeter-to-post attack to reel off a 14-0 offensive avalanche.

Busche, who finished with 13 points to complement three assists and three steals, knocked down a top-of-the-key 3 before Rahm swiped an outlet pass and hit the short drive.

Busche and Rahm then flip-flopped roles as Rahm spotted Busche for another trey via a kickout pass before Busche penetrated the wing and fed Rahm for a leaner in the low blocks.

Olivia Ortega cleaned the offensive glass for a putback basket, Abby Cihoski hit a solo charity toss, Jazlyn Geerdes hit a baseline runner off an Ava Terfehr assist before Miller floated home a layup off Geerdes’ steal-turned-assist.

Ahead 41-21 in the initial stages of the second half, Rahm and Kate Busche combined for a 14-0 offensive outbreak that more or less put the game away with 12 minutes left in regulation.

Busche threaded a low-entry pass to Rahm for a traditional 3-point play before Busche utilized a low-post spin move to toss in two more points.

Rahm’s putback basket, Busche’s long-step drive and Rahm’s low-post spin move extended Fairmont’s lead to 53-21.

Cihoski then reeled off half of her 12 points on the contest to create running time via a 35-point margin at the 9-minute juncture for the Cardinals. Lundquist and Erika Gaydon, however, nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to pare the Bucs’ deficit to less than 30 to restore regular game time stoppages.

Miller finished with 10 points for Fairmont, including a pair of 3s.

Gaydon drilled three treys to net nine points for the Bucs, while Keister produced eight points, six rebounds and a game-leading four blocks before fouling out at the 9:48 mark. Katherine Armon produced solid all-around numbers of four points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Fairmont (9-5) plays host to Marshall at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cardinal Gym in another conference game. Blue Earth Area (4-11) hits the road to St. Peter on Tuesday night for a Big South clash.

Kayla Lowry netted 11 points to steer Fairmont to a 41-17 victory over Blue Earth Area during C-squad action Friday night in Blue Earth.

Kenzie Lowry and Madi Peyman each contributed nine points to the Cardinals’ winning ways.