It's easy to understand why Minneapolis Southwest girls basketball coach Robert Grace is happy to have no more Saturday games on this year's schedule.

After besting St. Louis Park, 48-39, in their first Saturday game back on Dec. 4, the Lakers have lost their last two weekend matchups by a combined score of 94 points after falling 100-51 at Richfield on Jan. 22.

"We're not playing any more Saturday games," Grace said. "There's just something about them where we don't play right."

Southwest trailed from the start against the Spartans, ranked sixth in Class AAA and celebrating the 50th birthday of their coach.

In the end, Richfield nearly matched their leader's age in point differential against a Lakers squad that Grace said "showed an inconsistent effort."

"It has been the story of our year," he said. "We play well and beat the little guys, but then don't show up and lose to the big teams."

Southwest never mustered up a challenge in the game, promptly trailing by double digits before going down by 30 points at halftime.

"We missed our first six shots, they made their first four shots," Grace said. "It went downhill from there. We had some energy droughts and you can't have that against a team like Richfield."

Lakers center and main sparkplug Micah Thornquist led her team with 14 points, with guard Naja Woods contributing 10 points in the losing cause.

"We just weren't 100 percent from the start," Grace said. "We were out-played and out-hustled; it's not going to get any easier for us, either."

Still ahead amongst the dozen games remaining on Southwest's regular season schedule is a trip to Minnetonka, the eighth-ranked team in Class AAAA, next Tuesday night and a home game against the No. 1-ranked team in the state when Hopkins pays the Lakers a visit on Monday, Feb. 7.

"If we can upset one of these ranked teams, that would be a highlight of our season," Grace said.

Southwest, currently 8-6 on the season, plays its next two on the road before returning to its home court for eight of the final 10 games of the regular season.

"We're 3-1 at home and must continue to defend our home court," Grace said. "Having that home support will be crucial."