Notables-UMAC Game of the Week-Hovick scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half-Schellbach scored 11 of her 12 points in the second half-CSS outshot and outrebounded the Cougars
MORRIS, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The University of Minnesota Morris used a 13-0 run to start the second half to turn a six-point halftime deficit to a seven-point lead and outlasted the St. Scholastica women's basketball team 69-64 Saturday in a key conference matchup.
The first half saw the Saints shoot 45 percent from the floor and 11-for-12 from the free throw line, while holding Morris to 35 percent shooting and 4-of-7 from the foul line.
The Saints led for much of the first half and closed the last three minutes on an 8-2 run to take a 32-26 lead.
Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) had 14 points in the first 20 minutes of action.
The Cougars (7-9, 5-0 UMAC) would hit a pair of 3-point field goals and also converted a 3-point play to storm out of the locker room and take a 39-32 lead.
The Morris lead got as high as nine, before the Saints scored eight consecutive points to cut it to 51-50 with 10 minutes to go. A pair of
Holly Peterson (Rochester, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville HS) free throws would give the Saints the lead back at 54-53 with eight minutes remaining.
Cori Becker of Minnesota Morris then drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give Morris a seven-point lead once again. However,
Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) and
Danica Schellbach (Rush City, Minn./Rush City HS) hit 3-pointers on consecutive trips to cut it back to one with two minutes to play.
That would be the last field goal for either team as the Cougars made six free throws in the final two minutes to hold off the Saints for the 69-64 victory.
Points off turnovers proved to be the difference as Morris had a 20-10 edge for the game, including 12-4 in the second half. CSS finished with 14 turnovers, while the Cougars only committed seven.
Hovick was held to two points in the second half to finish with 16 for the game. Hovick also led the team with six rebounds. Schellbach scored 11 of her 12 points in the second half.
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) added 11 points. Emily Auch had 17 points to lead the Cougars
The Saints (6-10, 3-2 UMAC) will be on the road again next weekend and will face Martin Luther College in New Ulm on Friday with the action slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
