Notables-First home game for CSS since 11/25-The Saints had an 18-2 advantage in second chance points-Sorenson-Giffrow's 19 points was a season-high-Hovick is 18 points shy of 1,000 for her career
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team returned home on Monday night and defeated Finlandia University (Mich.) 71-60 at the Reif Gymnasium.
After the Lions led for the first five minutes of the contest, the Saints used a 9-1 run to take a five-point lead. Later in the half, CSS went on a 12-0 scoring spurt and went into the locker room with a 29-17 advantage.
Both teams struggled from the field in the first 20 minutes with St. Scholastica shooting 32 percent and the Lions held to 18 percent. Finlandia made only five field goals.
The Lions (6-9) cut the lead to seven early in the second half, but the Saints responded by scoring 20 of the next 22 points of the game for its biggest margin of the contest at 53-28. CSS ultimately prevailed 71-60.
St. Scholastica shot 53 percent from the floor in the second half to finish at 43 percent for the game. Finlandia was also better from the field in the second half at 56 percent to finish at 36 percent for the game. CSS was 15-of-17 from the free throw line.
Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) led the Saints with a season-high 19 points.
Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) added 15 points. Both Sorenson-Giffrow and Hovick each had a team-high eight rebounds.
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) was also in double-figures with 14 points.
Holly Peterson (Rochester, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville HS) added nine points. Paige Yoho led all scorers with 22 points for the Lions.
The Saints (3-7) begin Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play on Saturday at Northland College. Tip time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
