Balanced scoring lifted the United South Central girls’ basketball team to its first postseason win of the season.

Anissa Janzig led the Rebels with 17 points and 15 rebounds, and five United South Central players scored in double figures Monday during a 75-56 win in the Subsection 2A South quarterfinals at Nicollet.

The No. 5-seed Rebels (16-11, 6-6 Gopher) led No. 4-seed Nicollet (16-11, 9-4 Valley) 35-25 at halftime. Caitlyn Klocek scored eight of her 13 points in the first half, and Kia Legred returned from an injury to score 12 points, Hendrickson said.

“They were really concentrating on our main scorers, and Kia and Caitlyn had season-highs in scoring,” he said. “The tournament’s a great time to do that.”

Lauren Allis and Taylor Schultz scored 10 points each and Shianne Robertson grabbed 10 boards for the Rebels.

“It was a team effort out there,” Hendrickson said. “A lot of girls contributed.”

Next, USC will play No. 1-seed Mankato Loyola (24-3, 12-1 Valley), ranked No. 7 in Minnesota Basketball News’ Class A polls, at 6 p.m. Thursday at Fairmont.

Last season, the Crusaders edged the Rebels 48-41 in the Subsection 2A South finals to end USC’s longest postseason run since 1997. Mankato Loyola beat Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity in the section final to advance to the state tournament.

This season, the Crusaders defeated the Rebels 75-70 in overtime on Dec. 29 at the St. Clair tournament.

“We’re anxious to see Loyola again,” Hendrickson said.

Mankato Loyola has won 14 of its last 15 games; USC has won six of its last eight.