Notables
-CSS shot 70 percent in the fourth quarter; FInlandia only 23 percent
-Bench Points: CSS-26, Finlandia-5
-Walther has scored in the double-digits in the last seven games
-Made Free Throws: CSS-14, Finlandia-4
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica women's basketball team beat out Finlandia University (Mich.) 67-58 in a non-conference game Friday night at the Reif Gymnasium. This is the fourth straight game that CSS has won against the Lions.
The Action
To start the game,
Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) assisted to
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) for a good two-point jump shot, putting the Saints on the board first 2-0. A Finlandia player was able to get a three-pointer quickly after, causing the Lions to lead 3-2.
Emelia Miner (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS) would take the lead back for the Saints with a layup a minute later, putting CSS ahead 4-3. However, the Lions would retake the lead with another successful three-pointer. Finlandia would then pull away with the lead, with CSS no more than four points behind Finlandia at all times. Walther would put the Saints back in the with a good three-pointer, putting the score at 17-15. But the Lions would tie up the game and then take the lead right before the first period ended, with a score of 21-19.
In the second period, CSS and Finlandia were evenly matched, with the two teams tying four different times within the first five minutes of the period. The Lions would hold a slight lead for two minutes, but would lose it, as the score would tie up two more times before the end of the period. Finlandia would net a free throw shot with 5 seconds left in the period to end the halfwith a score of 34-33.
The Lions would continue to lead in the third period, expanding the margin to as much as nine points. Finlandia would score 16 points this period, with CSS only scoring 14 points. Going into the fourth, Finlandia would lead 50-47.
In the fourth period, the Saints finally gained some momentum limiting the Lions to eight points in quarter.CSS would go on to score 20 and with six minutes left, St. Scholastica's
Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) would net a good three pointer to put the Saints in the lead for good at 56-55. The Lions only got within two the rest of the way as CSS would win by a final score of 67-58.
Top Performers
St. Scholastica's Brannen and
Kayla Swanson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) scored the most points, netting 13 each. Walther added 12 points and four steals.
Mel Weisbrick (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS (Hibbing CC)) chipped in 10 points. Swanson and VanKempen assisted three times each. Brannen and Danielle Dieluch each grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Finlandia's Brooke Turin scored the most points for the Lions, with 15.
Up Next
The Saints (2-6) host Northland College on Saturday at the Reif Gym. This conference game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.
