Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team held the lead for 39 minutes of tonight's game, but the University of Minnesota-Morris took the lead when it mattered and remained unbeaten in conference play with a 53-49 victory at Reif Gym.

The loss drops the Saints to 7-13 overall and 4-5 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The win improves the Cougars' record to 12-8 overall and they remain unbeaten in the UMAC with a 9-0 record.

The Saints defense came to play to begin the game, not allowing a Morris point for the first six minutes of the game. The largest lead of the half for CSS came with eight minutes to go in the half when #Erin Morstad# (Fr.-Fergus Falls, Minn.) connected on a jumper to make the score 15-7. The margin would hang around five until the Cougars got a three-point-play and hit a jumper as time expired in the half to tie the contest up at 26-26.

The Saints shot 36-percent in the half, but held the Cougars to 29-percent and forced eight turnovers. #Laura Amys# (Fr.-South Range, Wis./Superior) had six points and six rebounds in the half.

St. Scholastica started the second half, just like the beginning of the game, scoring six points, including five points by #Katie Christensen# (Jr.-Elk River, Minn.) during that span. The Saints' lead grew to 10 after a pair of #Kelly Cinquegrani# (So.-Buffalo, Minn.) free throws with 15 minutes to go in the game.

CSS then went into a drought not making a field goal in an eight minute span as the Cougars cut the lead down to two. The teams then traded baskets for the next six minutes. The key point of the game was when with a minute to go and the Saints up by one, CSS had a 2-on-1 break and Morris would block the CSS lay-up attempt and threw the ball down the court to a wide open player where she was fouled. She hit both free throws to give the Cougars their first lead at 50-49 with 57 seconds left.

The Saints turned over the ball on their next possession, while the Cougars would hit a lay-up to go up three with 25 seconds remaining. St. Scholastica had one last chance to tie, but a 3-point attempt fell short and the Cougars hung on to win 53-49.

The Saints shot 33-percent for the game, while Morris shot 30-percent. The Cougars had a 50-40 rebounding advantage and out-scored the Saints 34-18 in the paint.

Kelly Cinquegrani (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) paced the Saints with a season-high 16 points. Laura Amys (South Range, Wis./Superior HS) had solid all-around game with nine points, 12 rebounds, six blocked shots, and three steals. Steph Roggenbuck led the way for the Cougars with a game-high 24 points.

The Saints will be in action again tomorrow when they host Presentation College on Parent's Day at Reif Gym. The game is set to begin at 3 p.m.