Box Score MENOMONIE, Wisc. – Despite taking a 39-38 into halftime, the St. Scholastica women's basketball team had to battle back from a  multiple 12 point deficits, one in the opening minutes of the contest and also midway thru the second half en route to a 77-71 victory over the UW-Stout Blue Devils in the UW-Stout Turkey Shootout Sunday afternoon.

With a 39-38 advantage coming out the break, CSS fell victim to a 21-8 run by the Blue Devils to open the half.  UW-Stout would have a 61-49 lead with 12:15 remaining in the game.  The Saints would make their comeback with an 11-4 run in a span of seven minutes to cut the deficit to six points, 67-61. 

After four consecutive points from CSS's Kayla Swanson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS), Sammy Doucette (Colfax, Wis./Colfax HS (UW-River Falls)) hit a pair of free throws to put the Saints up 70-69 with 1:43 remaining.  The Saints would make 7-of-10 free throws in the final moments and two huge blocks from Danica Schellbach (Rush City, Minn./Rush City HS), including one at the buzzer, sealed the victory for the Saints, a final score of 77-71.

In the opening half of play the Saints found themselves down 14-2 with five minutes played in the game.  CSS would slowly chip away at the lead and took a 27-25 lead off of a Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) jumper.  Stout would take back the lead and extend it to nine points before CSS closed the gap to end the half up 39-38.

The Saints finished the first half shooting 47-percent from the field compared to just 32-percent by the Blue Devils.  Stout did only miss one free throw in the first half.

UW-Stout (2-5) finished the game shooting 34-percent from the field and were led by Shelby Sterba with 18 points and nine rebounds. Two other Blue Devils finished in double digits for Stout who shot poorly from beyond the arc, going 2-for-24 on the afternoon. 

The Blue Devils finished the back-and-forth contest with 19 turnovers and 12 steals, four from Sami Schoeder.

CSS had five players score in double figures with Erin Frase (Phillips, Wis./Phillips HS (UW-River Falls)) leading the way with 15 points to go along with six rebounds.  Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) added 12 points while going 2-for-3 beyond the arc.  Schellbach chipped in 10 points and had a team-high three blocks.  Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS) and Doucette added 10 points apiece off of the bench. 

The Saints finished the game shooting 45-percent from the field, 37-percent from beyond the arc, but did struggle at the free throw line, going 26-for-43.  CSS committed 25 turnovers on the day and had just seven steals.

St. Scholastica (2-4) will have their two game win streak put to the test next Saturday as they host the Finlandia Lions at the Reif Gymnasium.  Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.