Notables:-Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) finished with 21 points and six rebounds for CSS.-The Saints trailed by 12 points late in the first half before mounting a comeback to take a lead into the second.-Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) scored 13 points and recorded three blocks in the second half for St. Scholastica.-Emily Auch (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Tori Holt (13 points, 14 rebounds) each added a double-double for Minnesota-Morris.
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – St. Scholastica women's basketball defeated the University of Minnesota-Morris 70-61 in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) matchup on Friday night at the Reif Gymnasium.
The Cougars led by as much as 12 points in the opening half but the Saints would fight back to take a 37-33 lead into the second half.
Kendra Wycoff made four 3-pointers in the half to lead all Morris players with 12 points.
Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) was a catalyst in the comeback for CSS scoring 14 points in the first half.
In the second half Emily Auch and Tori Holt stepped up for the Cougars contributing 12 points and five rebounds and 10 points and eight rebounds respectively. Both players finished the game with a double-double.
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) was instrumental for St. Scholastica in the second half adding 13 points and three blocks. Hovick recorded seven points and three rebounds in the second half to finish with 21 points and six rebounds.
The Saints were able to edge Morris by capitalizing on free throws, CSS shot 24-for-30 from the line compared to 15-for-24 for the Cougars, and a 34-to-26 advantage in points in the paint.
Overall the contest was very close with nine total lead changes and the game was tied six times.
St. Scholastica has now won three games in a row and holds a 6-3 record against UMAC opponents.
The Saints are back in action on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they take on Crown College at the Reif Gymnasium.
