Box Score ST. LOUIS – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team could not hold on to a five-point lead in the final four minutes, falling to Fontbonne University (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon 60-59.
Taylor Fellbaum (Minong, Wis./Northwood HS) scored the first four points of the game for the Saints on her way to a 14-point performance as CSS opened up an early 8-4 lead. The Griffins started a 13-0 run around the 11-minute mark and led 24-16 with over seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Saints cut the margin down and tied the game on three occasions before Shelby Ellison drained a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds to go in the half to give the Griffins a 36-33 halftime lead.
The Saints shot 45-percent in the first half, but were only 2-for-9 from the free throw line. Fontbonne shot 42-percent from the floor, but outscored CSS 17-8 on points off turnovers.
Early in the second half the Saints went back in front by three thanks to six straight points from Fellbaum. The Saints remained in front for the rest of the second half until the final minute and a half.
CSS led 59-54 with four minutes to go after a basket by
Haley Hoyer (Pelican Rapids, Minn./Pelican Rapids HS (North Dakota State College of Science)). However, the Saints went scoreless the rest of the game, turning over the ball on three of their next four possessions as Fontbonne went in front 60-59 after an Ellison jumper with 1:16 to play. The Saints got two shots at the basket in the final minute, but could not convert as the Griffins prevailed 60-59.
It was free throws that turned out to be the statistic that did the Saints in, shooting only 4-for-15 for the game. CSS did shoot 44-percent from the field, while the Griffins shot 38-percent. Fontbonne was 12-for-15 from the free throw line.
Fellbaum had four steals to go along with her team-high 14 points.
Elena Huber (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) and
Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS) each added eight points off the bench. Allison Hogan had 16 points to lead the Griffins (4-6).
The Saints (2-9) will not have a game until Tuesday, January 10th when they open up Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action against Northland College at Reif Gymnasium. The tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
