Box Score ST. PAUL (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team erased an 11-point second half deficit, but was unable to hang on to the lead late as Northwestern College defeated the Saints 73-68.
The Eagles (10-7, 5-1 UMAC) got off to a good start, making their first two field goals to lead 5-0. The Saints quickly back in it later using a 7-0 run to take a 14-9 lead. Northwestern took it right back with a 10-0 run and led by five with seven minutes to go in the half. The Eagles would go into the locker room with a 35-33 halftime advantage.
The first half saw the lead change hands six times and six ties as well. CSS shot 36 percent from the floor, while the Eagles were at 44 percent.
Northwestern maintained the lead at the start of the second half and used a 10-0 run to go up 50-39 with 14:26 remaining. With the score 55-44, CSS went on a 9-0 run to cut the margin to two with 7:37 left.
The Saints eventually used an 8-0 run to take a 64-60 with four minutes to go. However, the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to go up five.
Kayla Heisler (Remer, Minn./Northland HS) drained a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to cut the margin to 69-67. After a pair of Eagles free throws, the Saints would make just one of two from the charity stripe and the Eagles were able to score a layup to make the final score 73-68.
Free throws decided the game as the Saints were only 10-for-21 from the free throw line, while Northwestern was 18-of-20. The Saints shot 37 percent from the field for the game. The Eagles shot 43 percent from the floor. CSS had nine more offensive rebounds than the Eagles and had a 30-18 scoring edge in the paint.
Erin Frase (Phillips, Wis./Phillips HS (UW-River Falls)) led the Saints with her first career double-double of 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Heisler added 14 points and
Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) had nine points and nine rebounds. Mollie Sir had 23 points to lead the Eagles.
The Saints (6-11, 3-3 UMAC) will face North Central University tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the first half of conference action. Tip time for that game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
