Notables -CSS outscored Finlandia 44-27 in the second half-The Saints bench scored 34 of their 83 points compared to just 13 for Finlandia-Tonight marks a season-high for CSS in scoring, and the first time they eclipsed 80 points
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team defeated Finlandia University (Mich.) on Saturday by a final score of 83-58 in the team's largest margin of victory this season.
First QuarterCSS started the game rather sluggish in the first quarter with Finlandia building a 7-1 lead over game's first two minutes.
The Saints would fight back over the rest of the quarter with Finlandia managing to fend off every Saints run with a run of their own.
It was not until there was only 1:44 left in the first quarter that CSS took their first lead of the game on a
Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) and-1 opportunity. Brannen would make the ensuing free throw after being fouled on a made layup to put the Saitns on top 16-15.
Brannen's and-1 was part of a CSS 10-0 run to end the first quarter, and after one CSS found themselves up by five points at 20-15.
Second QuarterThe CSS lead did not last long in the beginning of the second quarter as Finlandia began the stanza on a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 21-20 with 8:43 left in the quarter.
CSS would quickly regain the lead with a pair of
Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) free throws to put themselves back on top at 22-21.
The Saints would build their lead as high as 10 points in the quarter on a late 3-pointer by
Destinie Villebrun (Orr, Minn./North Woods HS (Mayville State)), but an even later layup by Finlandia cut the halftime lead to eight points.
At the half the scoreboard read CSS 39, Finlandia 31.
Third QuarterThe first shot of the third quarter set the tone for CSS. Walther drained a 3-pointer just 12 seconds into the third quarter to give CSS a double digit lead at 42-31, and from there CSS did not look back.
Walther's 3-point shot shot started an incredible 13-0 run to start the second half. It was not until there was only 5:05 left in the quarter that Finlandia finally got a shot to go.
The CSS lead would hover around 20 points for the remainder of the quarter as both teams traded small scoring runs, and at the end of the third quarter CSS lead by 19 points at 63-49.
Fourth QuarterCSS would again maintain their lead at around 20 points for the majority of the fourth quarter with Finlandia only managing to cut the deficit as low as 17 points just once.
In the end, CSS had their lead built up as high as 25 points, and as the final horn sounded that margin would prove to be final as the Saints ran away from Finlandia by a final score of 83-58.
Top CSS PerformersHolly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) was one rebound short of a double-double on the day. She finished the game with 11 points and nine rebounds while Walther finished with a team-high 16 points.
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) and Brannen also finished in double digit points with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Up NextSt. Scholastica (3-7, 1-2 UMAC) will next be in action Tuesday when it hosts UW-Stout in the last game of 2015. Come support your Saints at the Reif Gymnasium as tip off is set for 5 p.m.
