Box Score Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS – Without three starters due to injury, the St. Scholastica women's basketball team was defeated by North Central University 52-49 on Thursday night at Clark Danielson Gymnasium.
The Saints (2-6) were without their leading scorer #Bri Allen# (12.5 ppg) for the third consecutive game. Also out tonight was third-leading scorer #Kayla Heisler# (8.0 ppg). #Erin Morstad#, who has yet to see the court this season after offseason surgery, is hoping to be back in the next couple of weeks. #Kelly Cinquegrani#, who is fourth on the team in scoring, was also slowed tonight by injury.
The Rams (2-8) jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the early going and led 16-6 with nine minutes to go in the first half. CSS then went on a 9-0 run to cut it to one with 6:29 to go. The Saints took their first lead of the game with two minutes to go on a #Katie Kimm# 3-pointer to make it 21-20. A #Taylor Fellbaum# layup in the final minute gave the Saints a 23-20 halftime lead.
St. Scholastica shot 35-percent in the first half, while limiting North Central to 30-percent. The Rams also did not shoot a free throw in the half.
CSS continued its run at the start of the second half, extending the lead to seven points. The Rams responded by connecting on three straight 3-pointers to regain the lead at 29-27.
In the final 17 minutes neither team would have a lead bigger than three with six ties and four lead changes.
With less than three minutes to go, the Saints had a three-point lead after a free throw by
Katie Kimm (Mora, Minn./Mora HS). The Rams then scored the next six points, all from the free throw line, to take a 50-47 lead with 26 seconds left.
Taylor Fellbaum (Minong, Wis./Northwood HS) made a layup with 12 seconds to go to cut it to one, but the Rams hit both of their free throws on the other end and CSS was unable to get a last second desperation off as the Rams trumped the Saints 52-49. It was the first win by North Central over CSS in the series history.
The Saints finished at 33-percent for the game, while the Rams improved their shooting in the second half to finish at 35-percent for the game. CSS out-rebounded the Rams 45-28, including 14-3 on the offensive glass, but turned the ball over 23 times, which led to 20 North Central points. The Saints also didn't help themselves from the free throw line, going 12-for-20.
#Laura Amys# had a big night for the Saints with career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (16).
Taylor Fellbaum (Minong, Wis./Northwood HS) added eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
Katie Kimm (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) pitched in nine points. Shoshana Womeldorf had 12 points to lead the Rams.
The Saints will be off until Thursday, December 30th when they return to the court at Reif Gymnasium and face-off against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and can be seen live, courtesy of the iFan Sports Network, at csssaints.com.
