Box Score EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (csssaints.com) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire used a late run to overtake the St. Scholastica women's basketball team and hung on to defeat the Saints 74-69 Thursday night at Zorn Arena.

The Saints scored the first six points of the game with four points coming from Erin Frase (Phillips, Wis./Phillips HS (UW-River Falls)). CSS maintained the lead for the first 14 minutes of the first half and led 21-16 with seven minutes left before halftime.

However, the Blugolds would go on an 11-0 run and ended up leading at the half 31-28.

Both teams went a combined 0-for-14 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Saints shot 42- percent, while Eau Claire was 45 percent from the floor.

Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) tied the game on the first possession of the second half, drilling the first 3-pointer for either team.

Trailing 36-33, the Saints would go on a 10-0 run with Sorenson and Swanson combining for eight of the 10 points as CSS led 43-36. After Eau Claire came back to tie it at 46-46 with 11 minutes remaining, the Saints climbed the lead back to seven, thanks to a 7-0 run with five of those points coming from Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS).

CSS led by five with 7:41 remaining before the Blugolds tied the game for the sixth time with 6:22 left. A little later, the Blugolds used an 11-2 run, which would ultimately be a backbreaker for the Saints.

The Saints trailed by four in the final minute and had a couple of chances to cut into the deficit, but would be unable to get a bucket as the Blugolds prevailed 74-69.

St. Scholastica shot 50 percent in the second half to finish 46 percent for the game. The Blugolds shot 52 percent in the second half to finish 48 percent for the game. Eau Claire out-rebounded CSS 39-29.

The Saints made five 3-pointers in the second half, three of which coming from Sorenson, who led the team with 17 points off the bench. Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) had 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds. McKernon added 13 points off the bench. Courtney Lewis had 20 points to pace the Blugolds (1-2).

The Saints (0-3) will have their home opener Monday when they square off against Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior at the Reif Gymnasium. The action is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. You can catch the action live on Saints Sports Net.