Both teams struggled in the first quarter, coughing up the ball several times. Trinity Lutheran turned the ball over six times, while the Braves committed five.
The Cougars led 8-6 after Bailey Tabeling’s second basket of the game.
The Braves then got hot from the outside as Maddy Hackman sank two 3-pointers and Ashley Schroer and Katherine Benter made one each to help their team to a 19-11 lead at the end of the opening stanza.
Sydney Jaynes warmed up for the Cougars at the start of the second quarter, and her three-point play at 5:45 brought the Cougars to within 21-19.
The Braves then used a pair of 3-pointers by Halle Hehman and Benter to take a 33-28 lead at the half.
The Braves held a 45-41 lead going into the fourth quarter, and both teams were cold the first 3 minutes with the only points by Jaynes.
The Braves (2-0) then went on a 7-0 run with a basket by Schroer at 2:50, giving the Braves a 52-43 lead.
The Cougars (1-1) finally scored again on a basket by Hannah Sabotin with 2:12 remaining.
Benter led the Braves with 17 points, and Hackman scored 14.
Tabeling was the high scorer for Trinity with 16, and Jaynes scored 14.
Brownstown Central’s 3-point shooting is what did in the Cougars, Trinity coach Mike Lang said.
“Their shooters got loose on us in the first half and did a good job knocking some 3s down,” Lang said.
Brownstown made nine 3s, and the Cougars made two.
The Braves travel to Class 2A Mitchell on Friday, while the Cougars will look to rebound against Jackson County rival Crothersville on Saturday.