Box Score MORRIS, Minn. – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team rallied from a 19-point second half deficit to cut it to six, but it wasn't enough as the Saints saw their season come to an with a 71-63 loss to the University of Minnesota-Morris in a UMAC Tournament Semifinal game at Jim Gremmels Court on Wednesday night.

Neither team would lead by more than four points for the first 14 minutes of the game. The Cougars had the lead for most of that span until a Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) basket put the Saints in front for the first time with the score 14-12 with 11 minutes to go in the half.

With CSS up 16-14, Morris would go on a 7-0 run to go back up 21-16. A pair of free throws by Haley Hoyer (Pelican Rapids, Minn./Pelican Rapids HS (North Dakota State College of Science)) and a layup by Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS) cut the lead back to one. However, the Cougars responded with a 9-0 run to go up 10. Morris went into the locker room with a 36-26 advantage.

The Saints did not make a 3-pointer in the first half and shot 32-percent. The Cougars attempted 14 free throws in the first 20 minutes, making 12 and converted four, 3-pointers.

The Cougars kept it going at the start of the second half, going on a 13-5 run to extend the margin to 18 with 15:35 to go. The margin got as high as 19 with 14 minutes to go before the Saints started to chip away.

CSS scored 11 of the next 14 points to make it 57-46 with 10:30 on the clock. It wouldn't be until a 3-pointer by Hoyer at 4:39 that the Saints got the margin under 10 and down to eight. Hovick then added her 16th point of the night to make it a six-point game with three minutes to go. Unfortunately, that would be the last points of the game for the Saints as the Cougars prevailed 71-63.

Statistically, the numbers were close as the Saints finished shooting 38-percent from the field, while the Cougars were 41-percent. CSS had a slight edge on the glass, 39-38, and were 14-for-16 from the free throw line. The Cougars were 15-for-21 from the charity stripe and made eight, 3-pointers. The Saints bench outscored the Morris bench 30-14 and CSS doubled up the Cougars in the paint 32-16.

Hovick led the Saints with 16 points and she also had six rebounds and three steals. McKernon was also in double-figures off the bench with 13 points. Hoyer finished with nine points. The Cougars were led by Jenni Noordmans who had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars (18-8) advance to the UMAC Tournament Championship on Saturday to face Martin Luther College in New Ulm. The Saints' season end with a 12-14 record. CSS says goodbye to seniors Laura Amys (South Range, Wis./Superior HS) and Taylor Fellbaum (Minong, Wis./Northwood HS). Thanks to Laura and Taylor for wonderful careers.

For future news on the St. Scholastica women's basketball team, please keep checking csssaints.com.